Community bowled over by new state-of-the-art sports centre

Community bowled over by new state-of-the-art sports centre

A new energy efficient sports facility, which has cost almost £900,000, has been built in West Lindsey to benefit the whole community.

Marshalls Sport Pavilion on Gainsborough's Middlefield Lane has been fitted with solar water heaters to provide hot water to the showers and basins, natural ventilation in the function room, efficient lighting and much more.

The facility was officially opened by the deputy chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr William Parry.

Cllr Parry said: "I was privileged to officially open this superbamenity building of changing rooms and function roomfor the Marshalls Sports Clubs.

Funding from the Football Foundation and Gainsborough Development Trust, as well as the District Council, has enabled this excellent sports facility to be built."

West Lindsey District Council took over the running of the site from Marshall's Sports and Social Club about three years ago.

The original pavilion was in a bad state of repair and unusable.

However, sports groups continued to play on the fields and used portable cabins to change in to their team colours.

Now thanks to the funding, a new energy saving building has been built, providing top class facilities for teams to use.

It has been designed by the council's Technical and Contract Services team and Ross Davy Associates and was built by local contractors Gelders.

Steve Gelder managing director of Gelders said: "It is a fantastic building and by using local contractors you get more of an affinity with the project."

The facility has the following:

Six changing rooms with their own showers and toilets
A large function room
Kitchen and stores
Two official changing rooms
Bag/equipment storage
Entrance foyer with toilets
The car park has also been extended.

Brian Dalby, Director of the Gainsborough Development Trust said: "This really is a superb facility.

The money we have put into this project is surplus from the work carried out on the Riverside and it is good to see this project has also brought money into the town."

Chris Barry, Technical Advisor for the Football Foundation, grew up in the town and uses the facility regularly.

He said: "It is fantastic to see this good quality building open in Gainsborough as this is something that has been needed for a long time. "

Graham Lyner, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Football Association has been campaigning for a facility like this for about 10 years.

He said: "There has been a lack of facilities in Gainsborough. This building is absolutely wonderful. I would like to say congratulations to everyone who has been involved in making this come true. It is a credit to the town."

Cllr Jackie Brockway chairman of Community and Waste Services Committee was pleased to be at the launch.

Speaking to everyone involved in the project, she said: "You have not just built a building you have built a legacy of opportunity, good health and community.

You have not just done it - you have done it well and I thank you."

The facility is fully inclusive for different social group mixes and will help the 14 children's teams, bowls, and cricket and football teams.

Dave Andrews Chairman of Marshall's Cricket Club said seeing the building had made him speechless.

He said: "It is a fantastic facility - beyond my wildest dreams."

From September 1 the facility will be handed over to Gainsborough Town Council, who will be taking over the running of it.

Paul Leeder Clerk to Gainsborough Town Council said: "I think this is a fantastic facility.

A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work in to getting this facility here. It would be good to get more people to use it not just sports groups."

Article Published: 05/08/2010

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