Residents in Southwell, Nottinghamshire will soon have more space to play in. Planning permission has been granted for a new community playing field at the Minster School to replace a playing field lost to the sheltered housing scheme as part of the development of the school site.

Sport England has welcomed the news that plans for the new field have been approved in addition to the four school playing fields planned for the site, at a time when playing fields elsewhere are under pressure.

Southwell has traditionally always had a community sports field but the previous one was used to develop sheltered housing and local residents have been keen to see it replaced as soon as possible. Gaining planning permission for the new field has been an ongoing negotiation over the last two years.

Sport England Regional Director, Tim Garfield commented: “This is a great example of how partnership working can be successful. We’ve worked closely with the school, the Newark and Sherwood District Council and Southwell Rugby Club to secure the replacement field.

“Being located so close to the school, the leisure centre and the rugby club means that there will be lots of opportunities for pupils to get involved with after school sport. This is a great boost for the community in Southwell.”

Head Teacher, Phil Blinston added: “We’ve already got a first rate Physical Education department, which has been recognised in two Ofsted Reports. We’ll have a sports hall and a gym for this first time as well so our sporting provision will be excellent.

“We have a number of pupils representing the country across different disciplines, but it’s also about people leading active lifestyle and about the community in general. Everyone will benefit.”

The redevelopment will also include a floodlit all-weather pitch, a new football pitch and floodlit multi-use tennis courts. A working design and development timetable are now being completed before building work can begin early next year.

The pitches will be ready for use by September 2007, whilst the tennis courts and some of the other indoor facilities are due to be completed by January 2008.

ENDS

For more information contact Helen Gorman on 07739 456644 or Helen.Gorman@perfectmotion.org.

Notes to Editors:

Sport England is the strategic lead for Sport in England and invests Lottery and Exchequer funds into sport. Our aim is to encourage people of all ages to start, stay and succeed in sport at every level and make England the most active and successful sporting nation.

Sport England has nine Regional Sports Boards (RSBs), each made up of experts from areas such as business, local government, sport, health and education. The RSBs provide the strategic lead for sport in their regions and distribute investment for grassroots sport.

Sport England has invested more than £2bn of Lottery funds into sport across England and more than £300 million from the Exchequer via the DCMS.