With the help of some very funny guys from Lancaster Royal Grammar School Drama group and their fabulous ‘silent movie’ style video to support their entry, Highfield Regeneration Project is through to a final round of a national competition to win a community award of £6,000 from NatWest bank, which will allow work to start the currently derelict tennis courts at the end of Derwent Road.
Highfield was once a hive of activity, offering space for Tennis; Bowls and football butfor the past 12 years has been mostly derelict for over 12 years. A small group of locals keen to “get it back in use” set out to clear the jungle of bracken and weeds and were joined in their by over 100 others.
Highfield Regeneration Project is a sub group of the Gregson Community Association, which already offers a successful community centre and brokers sub groups such as theirs, whose aims are to “improve the quality of life for the whole community”. Being able to offer an outdoor sporting facility for all age groups to incorporate entry level tennis, bowling, multi-use games area with some free for all times would extend the GCA remit to health and wellbeing of all within its boundaries.
In order to move forward to the next phase, the Project needs to raise £30,000 for ground clearance and site preparation. To date, they have raised nearly £20,000 – so £6000 would allow them to start work with the contractors in preparation of the groundworks required for the Tennis courts.
“We hope to grow the number of people playing bowls and add surfaces that will allow free access to all for football, hockey etc..” says fundraiser Paula Richardson.
“We hope also to renovate a wonderful pavilion that has a potential for a fabulous roof top terrace cafe with views of the Lakeland hills, and we are keen to develop a community orchard and children’s natural play area, and have a thriving outdoor community space for all.”
So now it’s time to get voting for the Project , which you can do until 23rd October 2011. (You will be asked to register your details this is just a formality to ensure no duplications).
Only three projects per area will win the £6000 each, so your vote would mean a lot to the Highfield Regeneration Project team.