Council approves funding for new PlayZones

Funding for three new PlayZones has been approved at the Torridge District Full Council meeting on Monday, 14 October. 

The council has said that these PlayZones are safe, inclusive, and accessible outdoor facilities designed to bring communities together through recreational football and a range of other sports activities. 

Funding for the project is being made available through the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The PlayZones, each measuring 20 metres by 30 metres, will be located at Stanhope Park in Holsworthy, Polyfield in East-the-Water, Bideford, and the former tennis courts at Gas Lane in Great Torrington. 

The new facilities are part of an effort to address Torridge's high inactivity levels, with the 2022 Active Lives survey identifying the area as the most inactive in Devon.

Each PlayZone will cost approximately £275,000, with variations depending on the location and surface type. 

Community engagement has already identified a wide range of user groups that would benefit from these welcoming and safe spaces. 

Work on surveys and design planning is ongoing, and a full application for the project will be submitted in December 2024.

Active Torridge has been chosen to manage the PlayZones, while Torridge District Council will handle maintenance as part of its agreement with Active Torridge for other leisure facilities.

Councillor Lyndon Piper, Lead Member for Leisure, Torridge District Council said: “The delivery of these three new PlayZones is fantastic news for our district. ‘North Devon & Torridge Playing Pitch Strategy’ update recognises the need for more outdoor sports facilities to help support local sports clubs, leisure providers and. Last winter was the wettest winter on record and saw and unprecedented number of sports unable to be played due to wet pitches. These facilities would help facilitate some training and outdoor activity for all age groups, whilst protecting grass pitches.

The Football Foundation, in partnership with Sport England, will provide 75 per cent of the funding for each site.

Councillor Piper added: “This opportunity doesn’t come along often and as a Council we are looking to utilise this funding to provide much needed community sporting and activity facilities across the district.”