Council agrees to £500,000 to pay for new sports pavilion

Mid Sussex District Council met on Wednesday April 9 to discuss building a new sports pavilion and community facility at Finches Field in Pease Pottage.

The Council approved the release of Section 106 funding to pay for the construction of the new building and to purchase additional playing field land at Finches Field.

Mid Sussex District Council is working alongside Slaugham Parish Council to deliver the sports pavilion and community building project.

The Parish Council will be responsible for managing the new building and both parties are now working together to finalise the arrangements.

Slaugham Parish Council has held a number of consultation events with local residents and community groups to find out what sort of facility local people would like.

Residents agreed that the new facility should provide a social hall for the village, a kitchen, room dividers to create smaller meeting rooms and a pavilion that will provide showers, toilets and changing facilities for local sports teams.

This flexible set-up will enable the facility to be used in many different ways, such as a base for local pre-school playgroups, or as a local polling station, and is adaptable enough to meet the changing needs of a growing community.
Mid Sussex District Council will now finalise work on the design of the new building and secure a company to carry out the construction work.

The project still requires planning permission but, subject to approval, and with good weather and ground conditions, the new sports pavilion and community building at Finches Field could be completed within the next 9 to 12 months.

“It’s fantastic that work to deliver this community building is progressing so well,” said Councillor Pru Moore, cabinet member for Leisure and Sustainability.

“The Parish Council has done some great work consulting with the local community and we can now use the views of local people to help finalise these exciting plans.
“This new sports pavilion and community building will provide an excellent base for recreational and junior sports, encouraging local people to get active and develop a healthy lifestyle.

“I can see this facility becoming a real focal point for the local community and I hope it brings a great deal of pleasure to the residents of Pease Pottage and the surrounding villages.”