The £80,000 project was given support by South Somerset District
Council's Play and Youth Facilities Team and Area North Committee,
which awarded the village with £10,000 - which helped to lever in a
further £50,000 from the Big Lottery Open Spaces fund.
Shaped by the views of young people and local residents, the
scheme includes time-controlled floodlighting so the new facility
can be used in the evenings all year round.
The Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Trust raised £30,000 towards
the project through fundraising, the parish council, youth
club, Yarlington Housing, Avon and Somerset Police Trust, Garfield
Foundation and Cloth Workers Foundation.
The facility was opened by district council Chairman, Cllr Mike
Best and the Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Trust, with a
five-a-side football tournament, a hockey demonstration from
Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School, and basketball and netball
matches.
Cllr Patrick Palmer, South Somerset District Council's Area
North Chair said, "We were extremely pleased to be able to
support this project. One of the main things we hear from keen
groups who want to improve their communities is that they think
there is no funding available. The key is that there is money out
there, perhaps not in large amounts from local councils, but by
getting smaller grants from the district council they can use it as
a platform to attract further funding, such as the Big Lottery.
"The district council wants to help communities help themselves,
and one way we can do this is by investing in beneficial projects
that have been prioritised by the community and helping them do
what it takes to progress these projects."
Ros Williams of Kingsbury Episcopi Recreation Trust said, "The
village is very family orientated and we believe the MUGA will be a
fantastic community facility which will benefit so many of young
people and their families and be a real asset for the
village. We are delighted with the support of South Somerset
District Council and their officers who have worked hard with us on
this proposal.
"The opening really was a great occasion with sixty or seventy
people turning out for the day."
Adrian Moore, Play and Youth Facilities Officer at the district
council added, "MUGAs help get young people more active and
critically, the floodlights and all weather surfacing will enable
them to use it all year round. The aim is for the young people of
the village to have their own space but also share it with other
user groups throughout the day such as tennis and
netball."
Cllr Sylvia Seal, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said,
"Kingsbury Episcopi is clearly a very proactive community and we're
pleased that our advice and funding has helped to bring forward a
facility that will give young people more opportunities to stay
active and have fun."
More information on South Somerset District Council's Area
Development is at communities@southsomerset.gov.uk
or
on 01935 462462.
Issued: 13 October 2011