£50,000 upgrade for Southwater sports

A cash injection of £50,000 will pave the way for a brand new multi-user games area in Southwater.
JPCT 160414 S14161747x Peter Buckley, chairman of Southwater Parish CouncilJPCT 160414 S14161747x Peter Buckley, chairman of Southwater Parish Council
JPCT 160414 S14161747x Peter Buckley, chairman of Southwater Parish Council

The massive financial boost from the National Lottery will see an upgrade at the village leisure centre.

The new facility will give visitors the chance to play a number of sports such as basketball, netball and five-a-side football.

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It will also provide new opportunities for badminton, gymnastics, trampolining, martial arts, dance, and exercise classes.

Peter Buckley, Southwater Parish Council chairman, is overjoyed with the award.

He said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment from the Inspired Facilities Fund.

“This means we can after many years of consultation now improve the provision of sporting facilities within the Southwater community.”

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Francis Maude, Horsham MP, praised the actions of his constituents.

He said: “This is neighbourhood action at its best, and the new facilities will provide a welcome opportunity for local people to improve their health and social lives.”

He added: “It is a great example of how clear vision and good consultation lead to a coherent plan supported by the local community.”

The generous grant comes as part of Sport England’s £17 million Inspired Facilities fund.

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Since 2011, the fund has been helping to breathe new life into tired community sports facilities and converting existing buildings into venues suitable for grassroots sport.

The games area, which is among 324 local sports projects across the country, will create a large amount of leisure space enabling all generations to engage in outdoor and indoor activities.

It will serve as a massive improvement to the centre which currently only has a small gym.

To celebrate the award, residents of Horsham and Southwater will be invited to a week of taster sessions when the facility is complete and this will be combined with an official launch.

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