New kickabout area now in action
Thanks to a partnership between Cumbria Constabulary, the City and County Council and Groundwork an old, worn unused area of tarmac at Briar Bank public park has been transformed into a new tarmac playing surface and a large multi-use goal end.
The project was developed in response to requests made by local young people for this new facility.
The official opening event was attended by representatives from the organisations involved involved in the project as well as United defender Sean O’Hanlon.
Lea Milligan of Groundwork said: “This new area is a great way to see local young people provided for. It’s great to see a project that began with the young people and really meets their needs.”
PC Kath Paterson of Cumbria Police said: “This facility is already making a difference. The number of calls of anti social behaviour and nuisance activity have dropped since its completion.”
Cllr Alan Toole of Cumbria County Council added: “I’m pleased to see such a wonderful, colourful area completed. This was a project I was keen to see funded and I am proud to be part of this partnership."
"It was good to come along and see so many youngsters enjoying this new facility," Sean O'Hanlon told us. "It shows that if we can provide facilities then they'll be used.
"We also managed to drop in on a training session with the lads from Kingstown and that was good to see. The lads worked hard and I hope they didn't mind me getting in the way!"
The project was made possible by funding from:
Britvic Pepsico “Transform Your Patch” Campaign.
Carlisle City Council – Open Spaces Team budget and Carlisle City Councillors Local Members Scheme.
Cumbria County Council – Carlisle Local Committee Local Members Scheme / Cllr Alan Toole.
Cumbria Constabulary – Partnership Funding.
Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust – Landfill Communities Fund.
Groundwork North East and Cumbria – Groundwork focus on three main areas of work:
• Improving people’s prospects – increasing the confidence, skills, well-being and employability of people, in particular young people and people that face the biggest challenges to getting into work.
• Promoting greener living and working – creating a greener future by helping people and businesses learn more about their environmental impact and then to act responsibly to reduce natural resource use and improve health.
• Creating better places – helping people to work together to make their surroundings greener, safer and healthier and be actively involved in the way decisions are made about services in their area.