Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) Council has completed the first stage of work for a new community playing field at Stembridge Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton.
Work on the new playing field began in November 2022 with the first phase allocated to the construction of a tennis court, multi-use games area and car park, which completed at the end of last month (February 2023).
SWT has allocated approximately £500,000 towards the cost of the project, funded using Section 106 contributions from a nearby housing development at St. Modwen.
Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Sports, Parks, Leisure and Phosphates, Cllr Derek Perry, said: “As a council, we appreciate how vital local amenities are to improve health across all ages of the community and I’d like to thank our partners for their efforts in helping us to realise this wonderful new playing area.”
The next phase will see the creation of a football pitch and an attenuation pond between the spring and summer, as well as finishing touches to the car park, tennis court and multi-use games area.
Cllr Derek Perry added: “The new games area and playing field will have a significant impact on improving the health and wellbeing of the local community, and with the addition of an all–weather, multi-use games area, it’s bound to be well-used by residents all year round. I very much look forward to seeing the future formation of local teams competing in a range of field and multi-court sports.”
All facilities are expected to come into use by the autumn of next year, whereby responsibility for the future maintenance of the site will transfer to Norton Fitzwarren Parish Council, who helped choose which facilities would be most beneficial for the local community.
