We've supported one of the area’s premier sporting facilities with a major project that will help countless people to be active.
To help meet our priority of supporting West Devon’s communities, we've provided £36,010 of S106 funding for the resurfacing project at Tavistock Athletic Club’s running track, which has helped the refurbishment cross the finish line.
Pictured: Councillor Anne Johnson with Tavistock Athletic Club's Alistair Kinsey, cutting the ribbon to officially open the resurfaced track.
Cllr Jane Elliott, West Devon Lead Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing, said: “One of the real priorities for West Devon Borough Council is that we’re supporting our communities across West Devon. I’m really delighted that we’re able to support Tavistock Athletic Club (TAC) in such a tangible way.
“By supporting the club to provide a much better athletics track, we’re able to make sure that people can take part in sport, they can come together as a community, and we know how important sport is, not just for physical wellbeing, but also for people’s mental wellbeing.”
The project took years of hard work from the athletic club to make happen. The club secured funding for the project from other partners and worked hard to make sure it had enough money in its reserves for the refurbishment.
Pictured: The newly resurfaced track at Tavistock Athletic Club.
Tavistock Athletic Club chairman Mark West said: “We’ve been working really hard with Tavistock College and other partners to get together the funds, and then a couple of years ago when we had the majority of the funding in place, we were topped up by West Devon Borough Council thanks to the Section 106 grant.
“We can see already, since news has got out about the refurbishment, that we’ve had lots of enquiries coming through, for both junior runners and kids to join, and start coaching lessons, but also quite a lot of new seniors that have come through as well, which probably more than anything, reflects the ethos of the club. We have an incredibly diverse range of different athletes.
“So whatever your age, whether you have done lots of athletics before or if you’ve never been near an athletics track, a long jump pit or throw before, we just say to them come and have a go, see what it’s all about and enjoy yourself.
“It’s about giving choice and opportunities. It’s nice to think that you don’t have to be in central London or central Manchester for grade-one facilities.”
The funding has come from Section 106 money provided by a development for housing at Grenville Drive in Tavistock.
Watch our video on the resurfacing project:
