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Replacement
goals
We are going to replace the goal posts on the recreation ground.
Following last years’ annual inspection of the facilities at the
recreation ground, it was highlighted that the goal posts were
probably at the end of their useful lives! It may have taken
sometime, but a grant has been obtained to partially fund their
replacements. The remaining cost will be met from funds held by
the Parish Council. These would have been ordered by the time
the Parish News is published. When they arrive, the old posts
will be removed and replaced with these new ones, which include
nets as requested in a parish survey that was conducted last
year. Oving Parish Council would like to thank the Football
Foundation. For those who are not aware of the work of the
Foundation, here is a short press release.
Oving Parish Council was awarded the grant after applying to the
Football Foundation’s Goalpost Safety Scheme. Since 1991 nine
young footballers have tragically been killed in the UK by
unsafe goals. Many more have been seriously injured by posts and
crossbars that fail to meet even basic safety standards.
Teaming up with The Football Association (The FA), the Football
Foundation has earmarked almost £4m to replace non-compliant and
unsafe goals in England at thousands of schools, clubs and parks
across the country.
Funded by the Premier League, The FA, Sport England and the
Government, the Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising
the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football
facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion
and as a vehicle for education in communities.
Other OCAG News
Firstly, I have to report my disappointment at some recent,
mindless, vandalism in the children’s play area. It is apparent
that this area is being used as a gathering place for some,
where drinking is taking place. This is evident from the empty
beer bottles and numerous bottle tops strewn about the
playground, despite there being a waste bin close by! This
behaviour is selfish and spoiling the enjoyment of those wishing
to use these facilities. Also, leaving glass and bottle tops in
the playground is irresponsible and could easily cause an
accident. How would you feel if this caused an injury to someone
you knew? This vandalism uses up precious resources which could
be spent instead on providing new facilities, aimed at the older
youth of the village.
On that subject, we are still trying to source a supply of
subsoil to be used in the construction of a cycle track. This
may seem an easy thing to achieve, but as we have found, it is
fraught with problems, not least the vehicle access onto the
recreation ground! This access is very narrow and weight
limited. The only viable route is across an adjacent field and
this of course, cannot take place until after the harvest. We
are in discussions with the developers of the new housing in
Gribble Lane and hope to come to a mutually beneficial
arrangement. If you know of where we can obtain at least 300
tonnes of clean subsoil (free of building waste), please let us
know. Once we have the soil, this only leaves the small matter
of raising the remainder of the money we need to build the
track!
To that end, we shall be staging various fund raising events
throughout the remainder of the year, as well as restarting the
regular bingo evenings run in the past. I hope we can count on
your continued support. We will also be organising a working
party in the near future, to complete some of the maintenance
required on the recreation ground. This will, hopefully, include
the replacement of the goal posts (new ones on order). Whilst
nothing seems to change, a lot takes place in the background.
OCAG are always looking for new members to strengthen the
committee and provide fresh ideas. If you feel able to offer
some help, please get in contact.
Tim Sellors
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