New sports facility for Ipswich school
WEST Ipswich looks set to gain a £600,000 all-weather surface pitch after Chantry High School made moves to secure funding for the scheme.The school is currently preparing a lottery bid to help find the majority of the cost for the project, which would also see an extra classroom added to the school.
WEST Ipswich looks set to gain a £600,000 all-weather surface pitch after Chantry High School made moves to secure funding for the scheme.
The school is currently preparing a lottery bid to help find the majority of the cost for the project, which would also see an extra classroom added to the school.
The school hopes to sell its playing fields in Ellenbrook Road to help generate around £100,000 towards the cost of the scheme.
Deputy headteacher Steve Wooldridge said: "It's an exciting development for this side of town. There are plenty of all weather surfaces in the east of the town but I'm not aware of any on this side.
"The idea is to bring people off the streets as sport is a good way of channelling people's energy. We want to get more usage of the facilities by young people and established clubs."
The new pitch, which would double the playing surface space available at the school, would be open to all groups but would be particularly suitable for football and hockey.
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The additional classroom, which would include computer and kitchen facilities, would be added to newly modernised changing rooms.
The classroom would be used for GCSE and A Level physical education lessons at the school but would also be available as a resource for the community.
Mr Wooldridge said the floodlit pitch is earmarked for the centre of the school site to avoid causing a "nuisance" to local residents through light pollution.
Adam Baker, sports development manager for Ipswich, welcomed the moves and said the facility is much needed.
"There is an identified shortfall of all-weather pitches in that part of town, he said. "All our indications suggest it would be well-used."
A lottery bid, submitted through the New Opportunities Fund, is expected to be made by the end of May. The school is currently writing to around 200 community groups to try and establish a need for the facility.
FAST FACTS: New Opportunities Fund
The New Opportunities Fund distributes Lottery grants for education, health and environment initiatives that help create lasting improvements to people's quality of life.
The fund delivers programmes designed to improve the quality of life for people and communities, address disadvantage, encourage community participation and complement government strategies.
It has funded various projects, including out of school clubs for children, childcare clubs, computers in public libraries and improving local green spaces.
Source: www.nof.org.uk
