By John Baron
Councillors have today approved major funding applications to support a new clubhouse for Farnley Falcons and playground improvements at New Wortley Rec.
More than £20,000 was approved to support Farnley Falcon’s bid to build a new clubhouse off Butt Lane by members of the council’s outer west community committee. They also supported £27,000 improvements to replace the decaying play surface at New Wortley Rec playground, off Oldfield Lane.
The meeting, held in Farnley Hall Park, heard that building costs of the new Farnley Falcons clubhouse – which is costing just short of £300,000 and had recently suffered from vandalism – had escalated.
“Farnley Falcons have accrued additional costs, partly because this council took so long to decide their planning application,” said Cllr Mark Sewards (Lab, Farnley & Wortley). “The new clubhouse is going to be a focal point for Farnley, it’s in an ideal location and help provide activities for our young people. I wholeheartedly support the application.”
His sentiments were echoed by Farnley & Wortley Green Party councillors David Blackburn and Ann Forsaith. “It will provide a real focus for the area,” added Cllr Blackburn.
Councillors also approved a scheme to remove and replace old surfaces and the installation of new play items at the playground at New Wortley Rec.
Cllr Forsaith said the plan had the support of the recently-founded Friends of New Wortley Rec group and added: “I am pleased to be supporting this. New Wortley Rec needs much more work doing to it and we have had lots of complaints about this.”
The meeting heard that all three Farnley & Wortley councillors had also agreed to use some of their ward-based initiative money to replace the play surfacing at both Farnley Hall Park and New Farnley Park.
Western Flatts Park playground is also set for a revamp after the council secured funding from developers of the new homes at the former Wortley High School site, although no date has been set for this.
The committee is made up of five Conservative councillors, two Labour and two Green from the Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey wards.