News Centre

03 Oct 2008 (archived)

New Multi-Use Games Area for Chipping Norton

Work will soon commence on a new £90,000 Multi-Use Games Area and sheltered seating area in Chipping Norton.

The MUGA will be built at the Worcester Road Recreation Ground for young people to play several sports, including basketball, football and tennis. A shelter will be built nearby for them to meet up with friends and watch people playing sports. New equipment will also be installed at the recreation ground's existing play area for younger children.

West Oxfordshire District Council, which secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund for the project, has now chosen the contractors and work will begin in the near future. It is hoped that the MUGA and shelter will be ready for use by the end of the year.

The project is costing £90,000 - £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, £20,000 from Chipping Norton Town Council and £20,000 of partnership funding from the District Council.

Cllr Hilary Biles, the District Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure, Tourism and Health, said: "This scheme shows the support and commitment the Council has for leisure facilities in the district. This will be of great benefit to young people in Chipping Norton and surrounding areas."

Chipping Norton Town Council is responsible for the recreation ground and has been involved in the project.

The Mayor of Chipping Norton, Cllr Martin Jarratt, said: "We are all very pleased to have got to this stage with this project. It's going to be of great benefit to young people. We do appreciate that this is a starting point and that there is still work to do, but it is very good to be doing something for the youth of the town."

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for distributing Lottery funding to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment.

West Oxfordshire District Council submitted an application to the BLF for the Chipping Norton project along with proposals for a new play area in Kilkenny Lane, Brize Norton, including equipment specially designed for children with multiple disabilities, and a new scheme for Play Rangers to lead open-access activities for young people in play areas across the district.

The Play Rangers scheme was launched in Chipping Norton earlier this year and is being expanded across the District. Work on the Kilkenny Lane play area project is on-going.

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