A new state-of-the-art community sports facility is to be constructed in the centre of Boston after full funding for the project was secured by one of the town’s secondary schools.
Haven High Academy (HHA) initiated the £900,000 project to base a 3G sports pitch, including associated facilities, at its Marian Road campus.
Following contributions from the Boston Town Deal’s accelerated funding, the Boston Witham Academies Federation (BWAF), the Football Foundation and the Medlock Trust, that dream is now to become a reality.
Nick Bishop, HHA’s Head of Sport and project lead, said: “To be successful in securing a large chunk of investment from the Football Foundation for the project is fantastic, and means our ambitious dream of creating a ‘world class’ 3G pitch here is going to be a reality.
“The determination and drive shown by all stakeholders to bring this project to fruition has been phenomenal – we are very grateful for the support we have received.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Football Foundation for their support, along with Boston Borough Council, the Medlock Trust, Lincolnshire FA, Castele Consultancy and the Executive Board at HHA.”
Emma Hadley, CEO of the BWAF Trust, said: “This is an exciting development and investment for BWAF and supports our belief that physical activity and opportunity supports academic learning, attendance, behaviour and performance for pupils.
“We are particularly pleased that the development of this community hub facility also enables us to strengthen our links with the local community in Boston and will be of benefit to many local people and groups.”
The pitch facility will promote various kinds of sporting and physical activity, while bringing together groups of all ages and abilities with aims of improving wellbeing levels in the area.
Chair of the Boston Town Deal Board, Neil Kempster, said: “The Board is delighted that one of our delivery partners has been successful in pulling together the remaining funding to bring forward this important project in Boston.
“It illustrates the huge benefits that the Government’s accelerated funding can bring and shows that the partnerships in Boston can deliver for the benefit of the area.”
Coun Nigel Welton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development at Boston Borough Council, said: “The new 3G pitch will bring huge benefits to schoolchildren, local sports clubs and community groups, and is part of our aim to make sure first-class sporting and leisure facilities are available in Boston.
“We are very grateful to the contributions our partners have put in to support this project of grassroots sport.
“This is a great addition to our fantastic sporting facilities on offer in the borough and is another great example of the investment in our communities to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
“It was clear from talking to our communities that a new all-weather pitch was a real priority for the town. At the moment teams are travelling out of town, even across the Lincolnshire border, to play on all-weather pitches and that isn’t right.”
Construction of the 3G pitch is expected to commence early next month.
Mr Bishop said: “During construction we will be donating the majority of the topsoil from HHA (approx. 6,000 tonnes) to the Witham Forth Drainage Board to be used in repairing and maintaining existing flood defences in the local area.”
- For further information on the 3G pitch facility email nick.bishop@bwaf.net
