Leisure centre equipment fund reaches £35,000

http://salopblog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c731d53ef010535ca3450970c-pi AN equipment fund for the town's new sports and leisure centre has reached £35,000 - thanks to a generous boost from the town's Food Fayre.

This year's fayre contributed more than £30,000 of its reserves to community projects in the area, after committee members decided to disband.

Church Stretton's Sports and Leisure Centre equipment fund has been the major recipient of £25,000 and the current project is expected to cost more than £2.5million.

It will be funded from a number of sources including grants and contributions from South Shropshire District and Shropshire County Council.

Church Stretton has had ambitions for better indoor sport facilities for many years and there is a local appeal to equip the community parts of the project. v

Delighted

Councillor Dr Charles West, chairman of the Sports and Leisure project management group, said: "We are delighted by the support that we have had from the community.

"We have a target to raise£l00,000 and this generous donation from the Food Fayre takes us well on the way. It is good to see what a community can achieve when it works together. These facilities will be well deserved, and we look forward to work beginning on site very soon."

The latest plans for the new sports and leisure faci1ities, which have been in the making for two-and-a-half years, Went on display at a public exhibition last month. Outline planning permission was granted in the spring. Contractors have been appointed and the centre is to be sited between the primary and secondary schools.

Photo caption: Painting the thermometer is Sue Mabbutt, chairman of Church Stretton Food Fayre committee, Councillor Charles West, Lesley Mclntyre and Mike Bugiel, manager of Church Stretton Co-op.