£700K SPORTS JOY
St John Fisher school Director of Sport, Bernie Preece and pupils celebrate the funding of £717,665 for new facilities. (041007)
By Anna
MORE than £700,000 has been secured for a state-of-the-art sports pitch in Dewsbury.
The Football Foundation will today give £717,665 for the soccer facility, which will be built between St John Fisher Catholic High School and Westborough High School.
MP Shahid Malik will hand over the money on behalf of the charity, launched by the football authorities and the government.
St John Fisher and junior football club Dewsbury Rangers teamed up five years ago and bid for the money in March 2005.
Kirklees councillors gave planning permission for the pitch in December of that year, after first refusing it in June.
Nearly 60 letters of objection were received from people voicing concerns over light and noise, traffic congestion, loss of privacy and the impact on the character of the area.
St John Fisher headteacher Kevin Higgins said: “It is wonderful to know that our long-held aspiration of providing an excellent community sporting facility is about to become a reality.
“The facility should make an excellent contribution to the health and wellbeing of so many in the locality and aid social cohesion. Thanks are due to so many for their help and support – not least, the Football Foundation.”
During school time St John Fisher, Westborough and Dewsbury College will be given priority use of the
pitch.
In the evenings it will be used for other community and sporting activities and at weekends open for casual use.
Dewsbury Celtic, who are themselves trying to get funding for their own facility in Crow Nest Park, will be allowed to use the pitch.
As part of the bid the school and club had to show they would cater for women and girls, ethnic minorities and disability groups.
MP Shahid Malik said: “Dewsbury is greatly deprived of sporting facilities of this type and the pitch will provide a much needed community provision that will be well used by a wide range of organisations and groups. It will help ensure that young people can engage in productive and healthy activity rather than stand on street corners.
“I am aware that St John Fisher fully intends to ensure that the sports development will be irrespective of gender, race or religion and I applaud this inclusive approach.”