Creating a sporting habit for life
Press Release
Sport England improves more facilities
in the North West with over £1m of
Lottery investment
Embargo: 00.01 3 April 2013
Date:
Four artificial grass pitches and swimming pool changing rooms in the North West are set to be overhauled thanks to
over £1 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England.
With three quarters of people citing the quality of the pitch surface and the changing rooms as being important to their
sporting experience, Sport England’s new Improvement Fund is investing £1,323,000 million to improve these facilities
for the benefit of thousands of people.
Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “As the research shows people have a better experience of
sport when the facilities are good both on and off the pitch. These investments on artificial grass pitches and
swimming pool changing rooms will have a big impact on sport in local communities.”
Successful bidders to the fund include Fylde Borough Council, who has received £500,000 to build a new changing
village and remodel the entrance, reception and spectator areas at St Annes Pool.
Darren Bell, Fylde Council cultural services manager, said: “This is fantastic news for swimmers. The pool itself is in
good condition, but the entrance is uninviting and the lack of a modern spectator area makes it difficult for parents to
relax and watch their children.
“The existing changing facilities are not currently designed to accommodate different user groups such as schools,
families, and disabled groups. The YMCA has already introduced a similar changing village at Fleetwood and it is a
big success with a mix of cubicles for individuals and family changing.
“This project will bring the pool up to the standards that the modern public expects.”
Other projects awarded between £150,000 and £500,000 include:
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Burnley Borough Council has received £350,000 to replace an existing all weather pitch at Prairie Sports
Village. The funding will build a new floodlit artificial grass pitch with seating and is the central part of a
larger scheme to create a multi-sports village. It will also provide a home for the rugby league and
American football clubs in Burnley.
Sport England, 3rd Floor, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4SE
E: [email protected] W: www.sportengland.org
T: 020 7253 1500 F: 020 7383 5740
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Bolton Community Leisure Trust has been awarded £278,000 to refurbish the changing rooms at Farnworth
Leisure Centre. The current facilities aren’t fit-for-purpose. By improving the changing rooms it will allow
them to expand their existing fitness facilities, which are currently stretched beyond capacity.
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Deeside Ramblers Hockey Club in Cheshire has received £195,000 to replace and upgrade their existing
artificial grass pitch and build training zone, supporting the Club’s ever expanding junior training
programme.
Minister for Sport, Hugh Robertson, said: “Protecting and improving local sport facilities is an important part of the
legacy from 2012. This £10 million National Lottery Improvement Fund will create thousands more sporting
opportunities for communities across the country encouraging people to get active and take up sport.”
Between now and 2017, Sport England will invest £45 million of lottery funding through the Improvement Fund into
medium-sized projects to improve grassroots sport facilities. Changing rooms and artificial grass pitches were chosen
for the first round after they were identified by Sport England as improvements that could have an immediate impact
on the number of people playing sport within a community.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Sport England is focused on helping people and communities across the country create a sporting habit for life. We will invest
over £1 billion of National Lottery and Exchequer funding between 2012 and 2017 in organisations and projects that will:
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Help more people have a sporting habit for life
Create more opportunities for young people to play sport
Nurture and develop talent
Provide the right facilities in the right places
Support local authorities and unlock local funding
Ensure real opportunities for communities.
The National Lottery has been changing lives for 18 years. Every week National Lottery players raise over £30 million to help
change people's lives across the UK.
For more information please contact the press office: Peter Dickinson on 020 7273 1800; Amy Wright on 0207 273 1593 or
Natasha Quinn on 020 7273 1889
Sport England, 3rd Floor, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4SE
E: [email protected] W: www.sportengland.org
T: 020 7253 1500 F: 020 7383 5740