SPORTS PITCHES IN COLNE VALLEY RECEIVE £57,500 OF INVESTMENT

11.18.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Two winter sports pitches in the Colne Valley area are to receive £57,000 of investment.

The money will help to improve the condition of the football and rugby pitches at Slaithwaite Spa Recreation Ground and Hollins Glen Recreation Ground which are used by a number of the valley based adult, junior and mini football and rugby teams, including the Slaithwaite Saracens who won the Holliday Cup in May 2008.

Spending of 27,500 was approved by the Colne Valley Area Committee on the 19 June. This will be matched by a £30,000 contribution from Kirklees Culture and Leisure Service who manage and maintain the sites.

Cllr Nicola Turner Chair of the Lib Dem run area committee says:

"We're very pleased to put this money into improving the condition of the pitches at the two grounds".

"The Sports Turf Research Institute produced a report for the area committee last year which confirmed problems at a number of the valley's outdoor sports venues. We'd naturally like to pay to improve all of the pitches but these are the two priorities which we can currently afford to deal with properly. Local people and sporting organisations can rest assured that we will continue to work toward improving the others in the future".

"Slaithwiate Rec and Hollins Glen are both well used by local clubs, including the Slaithwaite Saracens who had a very successful season last year. Improving the quality of the pitches will increase the quality of games played there and the enjoyment of both players and spectators. And good quality facitlies is part of the answer to keeping young people involved in sport and producing top class sportsmen and women. We hope that this investment will help to ensure a thriving community sports scene at these venues for years to come".

Cllr David Ridgeway (Lib Dem Councillor in Colne Valley Ward)

Cllr David Ridgeway (Lib Dem Councillor in Colne Valley Ward) says:

"I'm really pleased that this work will be happening. These have been long term issues that people have tried to resolve before and failed to do so. I'm really pleased that we're now making it happen".