Category: Volunteering

Full details, including some background on the project will be published shortly, but for now, have fun looking at the plans… (oh and don’t forget to come along this Saturday to help us build it all!)

Press Release
11 January 2011

CORSLEY MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELD WIN £50,000 LOTTERY BID

After twelve months’ work on the application, Corsley Memorial Playing Field Committee are proud to announce they have won their Lottery bid for new play and activity equipment.

Corsley Memorial Playing Field has received confirmation from the Community Spaces Programme run by Groundwork UK that they have secured £50,000 towards the upgrading and refurbishment of the Memorial Playing Field in Corsley. This adds to the £5,000 provided by the Warminster Area Board. The playing field was established and paid for by villagers in 1947 to remember those who lost their lives during the two World Wars. Following an extensive consultation and planning process the proposal, supported by Community Spaces and the Area Board, meets the needs of the entire village. It is hoped that work will be completed by the summer of 2011. Over 50% of the work will be contracted to local businesses.

With an ageing population in the village, the playing field no longer caters for the needs of all the villagers. Provision for older children is minimal and other groups are only catered for through joining the Corsley Tennis or Cricket Clubs. In addition, vehicles can drive through the play areas whilst children are playing. There is no provision for less able users and access onto the field is difficult for them. This project will radically improve access and safety and meets the top 15 requests of the villagers from the consultation process. We will install a boules area with seating, a new ‘multi use goal end’, disabled friendly and more challenging play equipment and a bicycle skills practice area. In addition, access will be improved still further thanks to a landmark agreement with Corsley Tennis Club to permit village youths and students to become members free of charge. Finally, the worn out all weather cricket wicket will be replaced with a multi use surface that can be used for cricket, short mat bowls and even golf putting.

The project started nearly two years ago when it became apparent that the old traditional football goal needed replacing. The cost of a new ‘multi use goal end’ was very high, so grant funding was sought. Having met the Community Spaces Programme Stage 1 Application criteria, Stage 2 allows for an increase in funding to £49,999 if a need can be shown. Thanks to the consultation results there was enough evidence to successfully secure the maximum amount.

Dr Neil Carpenter, Chairman of the Corsley Memorial Playing Field Committee says “Everyone is thrilled that we have been successful, bringing investment and new activities into the village that we could not have funded from anywhere else. The wishes and hard work of the villagers will finally implemented in the next few months. After almost two years of consultation and planning, the great resource that is the Corsley Memorial Playing Field will be able to provide improved access to safe and modern activities for people of all ages and abilities.”

Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, the Wiltshire Councilor for Warminster Without stated “I give my full support to the playing field scheme. Corsley is very fortunate to have such a spacious playing field but even more fortunate to have a committee prepared to put so much work into bringing its equipment and facilities up to date.

I know that children in Corsley will really enjoy the refurbished field when finished and everyone will benefit.”

Marion Liquorice, secretary for the Playing Field said, “It has been a lot of hard work but Lottery funding is a great way for outlying villages and communities who could not get support elsewhere to realise their dreams.”

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