People living in the village of Furness Vale are to see their dreams of transforming a village green space come true, with the award of a grant from local company Tarmac.
Furness Community Organising Green Spaces (COGS) has been awarded £50,000 from Tarmac’s national Landfill Communities Fund. This grant enables the charity to reach its fundraising goal of £200,000 to build a new community pavilion on the village field.
Local MP, Robert Largan, who is a supporter of the project, has successfully encouraged Tarmac to provide this funding, as well as co- funders High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and the Football Foundation.
Work is due to start on the pavilion in July. It will include two changing rooms, disabled access, a community meeting space, toilets and showers, a small kitchen, and space to store sports and other equipment. The original £150,000 raised will cover the cost of building the shell of the pavilion, with the final £50,000 from Tarmac enabling the interior fit-out.
The facility will be open to the whole community, and will be used by a range of groups including art, nature and sports clubs.
The pavilion project is the second phase of the green spaces project. The first phase involved raising £180,000 to level, drain and landscape the field which had been gifted to the village by a philanthropic local family. In addition, a football surface, perimeter paths, flower beds, picnic tables and a table tennis table were installed.
Terry Watson, chair of Furness COGS said:
“We are delighted that we’re now in a position to provide this facility for our village.
“We’re very grateful to all our funders, and so pleased that Tarmac have stepped in with the final piece of the jigsaw to allow us to begin work.”
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak said:
“I am delighted to that Furness Vale COGS Community Organising Green Space have reached their fundraising goal of £200,000 to build a new community pavilion on the village field.
“I am really pleased that Tarmac have come through with such a substantial award.
“This is such fantastic news for Furness Vale, well done to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen.
“I am very sad that the late Alison Fox, who did so much to support COGS, is no longer here to see the pavilion built. She is greatly missed by local people.”
David Wilson, Tarmac’s Lime Business Development manager said:
“It’s great that Tarmac has been able to make a donation to complete the fundraising campaign. We look forward to seeing the project progress and the final pavilion once it is open.
“The field and pavilion projects have been the result of much hard work from Furness COGS and the whole community—coming together to enhance the village and give local people their own much needed green space to use on their doorstep.”
