Developers gesture to help youngsters play sport

ONE of the country's largest property development companies is to provide a sports park for children free.

Persimmon Homes has donated the land in Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, to the town council to build much-needed football pitches and a netball and hockey court.

Over the years the land, which is close to Stratton Upper School, and a small pavilion on the site has been a target for vandalism and rubbish.

Last year the pavilion was wrecked and glass scattered around the field.

Persimmon Homes has restored the pavilion and the site has been cleaned up. During the next few weeks the final contracts to give the land to Biggleswade Town Council will be signed.

The company had been responsible for building a major complex of homes near the land.

"This is a wonderful gesture by Persimmon Homes to give us the land," said Cllr Rex Skinner.

"The changing rooms were vandalised and the place was a tip. But we didn't want to take on the site until it had been cleaned up. We didn't want to have the extra cost of getting the place into shape for the kids.

"We have a shortage of playfields in the town and this will be an ideal place for kids to play football because we have a shortage of pitches.

"We also want to mark out an area on the tarmac for a netball court and a hockey court so a lot of sports can be played there.

"Hopefully, during the next few weeks the contracts for the land will finally be signed and the field will finally belong to the council."

Cllr Skinner said the only drawback might be protests from local residents living in houses that back on to the field.

"Residents might complain to the council that kids will be making too much noise and swearing on the new recreation ground," added Cllr Skinner.

"Hopefully everything will run smoothly and there will be no problems."

Ken Lynch, a great campaigner for youth in Biggleswade and Sandy, said: "This will be a wonderful facility for young children in Biggleswade.