Priti welcomes investment from the Government to upgrade sports facilities across Witham

Priti Patel, the MP for Witham, has welcomed the £11,313 investment from the Government to upgrade sports facilities in her Constituency, to get local people more active and to nurture future sporting talent.

Five facilities in the Witham Constituency are benefitting from the funding.  White Notley Youth Football Club is receiving a grant of £1,322 for new goalposts.  Valley Green FC  will receive £1,080, also for new goalposts, at Rickstones Sports Ground in Witham.  Tiptree Heath FC is to receive a grant for £7,150 for new fencing.  Torquespeed FC, also in Tiptree are receiving £681 for new goalposts at their playing facility at Leisure World.  The final beneficiary is Tollesbury Juniors FC, who will receive £1,080 for goalposts at their Victory Recreation Ground in Maldon.

Across the UK, 1,700 new and improved multi-sports grassroots facilities are benefiting from a £68 million investment from the Government, aimed at improving access to high-quality facilities.  Projects supported, include a range of facility types, from the creation or upgrade of changing rooms, grass pitches and 3G football turf pitches and pavilions, to floodlights, goalposts, fencing and improved disabled access.

This funding comes from the latest allocations of a £300 million UK wide capital investment in grassroots facilities to deliver upgrades, improvements and new pitches – making more high-quality facilities available for people to play football, hockey and other grassroots sports.  At least 50 per cent per cent of the investment will be spent in underprivileged areas to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. This programme will also ensure particular focus on increasing participation among under represented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability.

Commenting on the funding for sports facilities in Witham, Priti said: “I welcome the funding from the Government which will see Witham and surrounding areas benefit from over £11,000 in grants for improving our local sports facilities and help more people access them.

“Helping people get active is the key to reducing NHS waiting lists through encouraging them to live healthier lives and become more engaged in sport. Grassroots facilities are essential for nurturing future sporting talent and encouraging people to get active which benefits their physical and mental wellbeing.

Commenting on the funding announcement, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport, which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health. “We are delivering more than 1,700 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across the UK to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport, so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.”

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