THE new playing field at Clifton Heights in Holsworthy has been transferred to Torridge District Council.

The district council now plans to work in partnership with Holsworthy Youth Football Club, Holsworthy Town Council and other local groups to develop plans for the area.

The playing field was created as part of the Redrow development of the town’s old show ground and will provide a large additional area of public open space to be enjoyed by the community in addition to the well used Stanhope Park.

Mayor of Holsworthy Cllr Jo Heaven said: “Holsworthy Town Council have been working for the last three years with Torridge District Council and Redrow to enable the playing field to be at a standard where it can be used by the Youth Football Club and the residents of the town. The use of the playing field will enable the Youth Football Club to grow. Encourage more children to get involved in football and also provide additional open space for the local community to use. We look forward to working with all parties to achieve this.”

To achieve an ambition of local involvement the playing field will be managed by the Youth Football Club, which will take forward plans to deliver an ambitious range of footballing opportunities for the youth of the area as well as other user groups. The area will also remain open for public enjoyment and bookings of the football pitch that will be managed by the club.

Chair of Holsworthy Youth Football Club Adam Chidley said: “Holsworthy Youth Football Club are delighted to have been involved with the Holsworthy Area Sports Pavilion project over the past five years and feel that access to the new sports pitch can help elevate the club to the next level of development.

“With four teams currently playing in the North Devon Youth League, it is hoped that the new pitch facilities will enable the club to expand its membership and offer further football opportunities to the children of Holsworthy and the surrounding area.”

The field is adjacent to the sports pavilion which was refurbished by the town council and Youth Football Club in 2018.

Chair of Holsworthy Area Sports Pavilion (HASP) Lyndon Piper said: “The pavilion project is delighted to see the delivery of the open space to the north of the pavilion. This will initially provide desperately needed football pitches for the town’s youth football club and will hopefully also provide a back up to the adult teams in the town. We are also exploring other sporting opportunities that the space could provide for our town, which is very exciting, and we are pleased to be working with Torridge District Council and the Town Council on this.”

He added: “The provision of the pitch is a major part of the pavilion project and will allow the sports development plans and business plans devised in collaboration with Holsworthy Town Council to be realised. Having been open for 18 months the pavilion is proving to be a very useful and popular facility in the town and is helping clubs such as Youth Football, Cricket Club, Running Club, Cycling Club (Holsworthy Peloton) and Walk and Talk go from strength to strength.”

Torridge District Council’s planning and economy manager Sean Kearney said he was ‘impressed’ with those involved with the project and their dedication to providing something of benefit to the local community.

He said: “I am really pleased that the council has been able to work with the local community and groups to provide much needed additional sports and recreation facilities for Holsworthy. I was really impressed in my conversations with everyone involved, and their passion and dedication to providing well managed sporting opportunities for the whole community is inspirational. We look forward to working with the club and the town council in developing further opportunities for sport in the town.”

Anyone interested in becoming involved as a volunteer coach at the Football Club or has a child who would like to train or play football for Holsworthy Youth Football Club contact Adam at [email protected] for further information.

Additionally, anyone interested in improving and increasing sport and recreation provision in the town should contact Holsworthy Town Council either via social media, email [email protected] or call 01409 253312, or via the chair of HASP Lyndon on 01409 253363.