Council goes in to bat for improved cricket facilities

Published on 28 October 2021

Three High Peak cricket clubs have been bowled over after receiving grants from the Borough Council to help improve facilities at their grounds.

The Council has allocated £100,000 in its budget towards making improvements to outdoor sports and recreational facilities across the Borough. The latest grant awards totalling over £23,000 have just been awarded including £10,000 towards a new clubhouse at Tintwistle; £2,000 for new practice facilities at Charlesworth; and £1,500 towards a new score box at Buxworth.

Given the scale of the project at Tintwistle, the Council has also awarded a further £10,000 bringing its total contribution to £20,000.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, visited the three clubs to give them the good news.

He said: "Being active and moving more is so important for both our physical and mental wellbeing and health and these three clubs are all doing terrific work in their communities to encourage people of all ages to get involved and in providing invaluable community space for wider connection - or will do in the case of Tintwistle.

"For our part, we want to see a variety of opportunities across a wide range of sports and activities delivered across the Borough so that we're catering for as many interests as we can.

"So I'm delighted that we've been able to invest in these improvements at each of these clubs to get them over the line. I know what a difference they will make to the clubs, the cricketers and the wider community and I look forward to coming back to see the improved facilities when they're in place."

All three clubs are long established and offer opportunities for both juniors and adults.

The improvements at Buxworth include upgrades to the clubhouse and changing facilities as well as the score box to allow the Club to continue its activities and open its facilities to the wider community. The overall cost of the project is £6,500 and the Club is raising funds itself and making grant applications. The Council grant will help meet the shortfall.

At Charlesworth, the poor condition of the practice nets as a result of significant usage and wear and tear, is next on the agenda for Club who have already raised funds for eight new sight screens and drainage work in recent years.

Each net costs £20,000 and, through its fundraising efforts, the Club has raised £18,000. The Council grant means the Club can now purchase one net.

In Tintwistle, the Club's ambitious plans for a modern, accessible and welcoming community building to replace the old clubhouse have been granted planning permission.

The Council's grant adds to the significant funding raising the Club has already done to meet the £200k cost of the project.