Everyone gets share in parks (From Echo)

Everyone gets share in parks

1:52pm Tuesday 24th August 2010 in

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I find it amazing councillor Pat Rackley can accuse the Tory administration of diverting resources to the “leafier” parts of Basildon district (Aug 12).

The Lake Meadows and Laindon Park improvements are indeed mentioned, but what Ms Rackley fails to note is this administration’s continued investment and commitment to our parks and leisure services across the district.

Over £5m has been invested in Pitsea’s Wat Tyler Country Park, ranging from the fantastic new visitor centre to a £90,000 investment in the miniature railway.

Over 250,000 visitors a year enjoy this jewel in the crown. Elsewhere in Pitsea, thousands have been invested in creating a the recession busting Gym Express used by over 1,000 residents, and £100,000 was committed in February’s budget to renovate Pitsea Leisure Centre, a major hub for the community.

Then we have the major investment in the Basildon Sporting Village which will be the best public sports facility in Essex and affordable and accessible to all the community.

This is in addition to the £400,000 invested in our national standard netball courts and £300,000 spent on resurfacing the Gloucester Park astro pitch. Not to forget the £150,000 investment into the skate park with the help of the Rotary Club.

In Vange, we built a £42,000 all-weather surface on two old tennis courts at Swan Mead, and created new five-a-side football pitches and changing rooms at Frypa Hall in Fryerns.

Need I go on?

Kevin Blake
Cabinet member for leisure
Basildon Council