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Bentham Playing Fields Project (Updated June 2008)

The Bentham Playing Fields Project is a major scheme that will cost in the region of £500,00 when finished. The first two phases have been completed with funding from Sport England New Opportunities Fund, The Football Foundation, the Market Towns Initiative/Countryside Agency, Bentham Sports Club, Craven District Council and Bentham Town Council

Matched funding was provided from the Playing Fields Association and from local fund raising activities.

The project has three phases :

Phase One:

Refurbish the football and cricket playing areas.
Provide a new mini soccer area for Craven Wanderers under 10’s.

This was finished in 2003 and has been used successfully since then with very good reviews. Flooding that had affected the pitches for many years has also been reduced.

Phase Two:

Build a new shower block to provide modern facilities for home and visiting teams.

This was completed in 2004 and has been in use since then with again good feedback on the facilities made available. More recently a new car parking area has been provided.

Phase Three:

*Provide a floodlit football training area. The floodlights are now in position and are operated by a token operated system. For details see Bentham News article for December 2008.

*Upgrade the present tennis courts to LTA standards. This is still ongoing but getting funding is difficult.

*Create a new wheels based area to cater for skateboarders, roller blades and BMX bikes.
This was postponed due to a lack of a suitable area to position it. But recently an application for a grant has been made for a wheels based area near to the tennis courts. For details see Bentham News article for December 2008.

Planning permission for the wheels area was given by Craven District Council at the end of July 2009. For details of problems see Bentham News article for August 2009.

LATEST NEWS:

A plan for the upgraded tennis courts has now been prepared and a copy is on the notice board in the Lower Town Hall. The plan also includes space for a 'Wheels' area but details for this have not been finalised. This will be done in consultation with those who will use the area.

The total cost is almost £130,000 and some grants towards this have already been promised. The Playing Fields Association is hoping for further grants to be made available but some local fundraising will still be required.

The Association is gathering a list of those who support the project and especially of those who will use the tennis courts or 'Wheels' area. If you are interested please sign the form on the notice board in the Lower Town Hall or contact Pam Woof.