Huge funding boost for Didcot’s artificial pitch plan

Plans to bring a new state of the art artificial football pitch to Didcot have been given a massive boost following the award of £150,000 Sport England grant.

South Oxfordshire District Council last week received confirmation that its funding application for £150,000 awarded by Sport England as part of its Places People Play Legacy Foundation was successful. This funding will to go towards the £400,000 facility.

The pitch, which South Oxfordshire District Council secured planning permission for last August, is set to be located next to Willowbrook Leisure Centre.

The artificial third generation rubber crumb pitch will be a fully accessible full-size football pitch which may also be made available for use by other sports.  It is anticipated that the pitch, which will be the first of its kind in Didcot, will be ready to use by 2013.

The £150,000 funding towards the new pitch has been awarded by Sport England, allocated through the Places People Play legacy programme, which is being delivered in partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association, with the backing of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Cllr Bill Service, Cabinet Member for Leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured Sport England funding for the new artificial pitch, our leisure team worked extremely hard win this allocation.  Sports enthusiasts in the area have been crying out for a first class artificial facility such as this, which will become a really important addition to the town and wider community.”

Margaret Davies, Leader of Didcot Town Council said:  “The Town Council is working actively with SODC and Didcot Town Football Club on this project.  We intend to provide the management of the facility from our Willowbrook Leisure Centre next door to the Artificial Turf Pitch.  We are delighted that the funding is now becoming a reality and look forward to the pitch being constructed and made available, hopefully early in 2013.  This is a three‑way partnership providing an excellent scheme for Didcot.”