Community facilities get funding boost

Community facilities in north Devon are to share in £310,000 of council funding.

North Devon Council said it would split the public open space funding between Barnstaple, Bickington and Witheridge.

Fremington Parish Council is set to receive the biggest sum after being given £240,000 to extend a changing room pavilion, increase storage and add a kitchenette to the Tews Lane Playing Field site.

The council said the total sum came from contributions from the Glenwood Farm, Oakwell Residential Home and Mead Park developments.

The council said Witheridge Parish Hall would receive £58,911 towards the cost of purchasing and installing cladding and insulation to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

A further £11,078 will be used in Barnstaple to install a permanent ball rebound fence at Tarka Leisure Centre's grass football pitch, the council said.

Council leader David Clayton said he looked forward to seeing the improvements of community facilities "take shape in the near future".

"It's very pleasing to see public open space funding being put to good use to improve community facilities and bring even more benefits to those who use them," he said.

The funding was approved by the council's Strategy and Resources Committee on 7 July.

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