County Council to fund improvements for community sports facilities and play areas

45 organisations net almost £600,000 in the latest Local Improvement Scheme round.

Improvements to local sport clubs, new play areas and better access for people with disabilities are among the many projects set to benefit in the latest round of County Council funding. 

The Local Improvement Scheme is helping local communities to be more vibrant and sustainable by providing grants to local organisations which seek to make a difference in the local community. 

County Councillors gave the go ahead to the latest round of capital funding at the latest Communities and Place Committee meeting.

Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor John Handley, said: “Nottinghamshire is very proud of its sporting pedigree, and we hope these improvements will encourage even more people to get involved with their local sports clubs.”

Improvements to sports clubs and facilities featured widely in this latest round. These include:
• A new sports pavilion at East Markham, near Tuxford (£10,000)
• Flintham Cricket Club improvements (£12,600)
• Newark R&M Cricket Club – development project (£15,000)
• Ashfield Rugby Union clubhouse improvements (£22,915)
• Calverton Cricket Club expansion (£10,000)
• Improvements at the The Chilwell War Memorial Hall and Institute, including tennis court improvements and floodlights (£18,350)
• Retford Tennis Club facility improvements (£6,000)
• Hoveringham Cricket Club extension and all-weather training net (£10,000)
• Lady Bay Tennis and sports club improvements (£10,000)
• Keyworth Sports Association facility improvements (£25,000).
New and replacement play areas will include:
• Radcliffe on Trent Parish Council, awarded £5,500 to help improve Wharf Lane Recreation Ground.
• Costock Parish Council - £10,500 towards the cost of more challenging play equipment for children aged 2 to 11 years.
• Cotgrave Town Council - £15,000 as contribution towards a more inclusive play park. 
• Edingley Parish Council and The Edingley Old Schoolroom - £18,000 to help pay for the creation of a play area for local children.
• Farnsfield Parish Council -£20,000 to provide a skate park for 11 to 18 year olds, which links to other local open spaces and facilities.
• Mansfield’s Bellamy Road Tenant and Resident Association - £34,150 towards the cost of a new play area, picnic benches and soft landscaping. 
• Gotham Memorial Hall play area - £23,010 towards a new play area, including slides, swings, outdoor table-tennis, gym equipment and a multi-games area.
• OASIS Community Church Centre, Worksop - £25,000 to buy new, improved equipment. 
Capital projects which aim to improve access and provide better facilities for people with disabilities and learning difficulties include:
• Rhubarb Farm, a community interest company based in Langwith, will receive £7,500 towards creating easy-to-access paths.
• Reach Learning Disability awarded £6,000 to help fund its takeover of Balderton Playing Field Community Café and associated equipment costs for the benefit of the community.  
• Scrooby Parish Council to help fund an extension to the village hall to improve access. (£10,000).

Around the county, £145,864 has been awarded to 10 projects in Rushcliffe. 

In Newark and Sherwood £118,572 has been awarded to 10 schemes.

In Broxtowe £52,034 has been awarded to four projects.

Mansfield has been awarded £34,150 for one scheme – Bellamy Road play area.

In Bassetlaw, £147,750 has been awarded to 12 schemes.

The Gedling area has been awarded £26,000 for four projects

In Ashfield £57,415 has been awarded to four schemes.
 

Nottinghamshire County Council will be further supporting local sport when the annual round of Talented Athletes funding opens later this Autumn. 

The Talented Athletes Fund is part of the wider Local Improvement Scheme and aims to help talented athletes living in Nottinghamshire to overcome some of the financial barriers which can exist when competing for his / her country. Awards are made to successful applicants to help with costs such as travel, training, competition and coaching fees. 

The next round of funding is due to open in September 2019.