School children urge everyone to vote 'UP'
Released: 27 November 2007
Children from Smestow School and Sports College are urging everybody to vote now for the Black Country to win £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund.
A Million People: Black Country as an Urban Park is one of four national schemes competing in a public vote that could see it winning £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest. If successful, the money will be used to create an Urban Park, focused on sweeping environmental transformation across the Black Country that will benefit over 800,000 people of all ages.
Everyone can vote by logging on to The People’s £50 Million website now, or by landline and mobile from 7 December.
If the Black Country wins the public vote, part of the money will be used to improve and enhance Wolverhampton’s canals, waterways and green public open spaces for everybody of all ages to enjoy. It will also make a positive contribution to Wolverhampton’s schools by providing access to increased leisure and exercise opportunities.
Under the proposals, existing changing rooms at Newbridge playing fields would be demolished and replaced by a new ‘dual use’ pavillion that would combine changing rooms and boating facilities for use by the local community, visitors and canal users alike. The new building will have a green roof, similar to that introduced recently at the city’s new Bantock Park changing rooms.
The new pavilion will dramatically improve the facilities for users of the playing fields, and the additional provision of boating facilities will result in an increased duration of activity each day.
Boaters will access the new building via a new footpath that will be constructed to full disability standard from the canal up to the playing fields. Moreover, new short stay canal boat moorings will be provided at this convenient location, where visitors will be within easy reach of local shops, a public house and a frequent bus service into Tettenhall village and Wolverhampton city centre.
The plan has been conceived jointly by the City Council and British Waterways who are keen to provide new moorings and facilities for boating customers.
Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for leisure and culture at Wolverhampton City Council said: “We need everybody to vote for the Black Country for £50 million. These proposals for Newbridge are a great example of the collaboration between the council and British Waterways to provide an outcome that benefits a wide range of people of all ages.
The playing fields are an extremely popular venue and we need to improve the changing room facilities. At the same time, we can provide additional facilities for boating customers at little extra cost and meet the need for moorings at the same time.”
All voting for the Black Country to win £50 Million of Big Lottery Funding ends at 12 noon on Monday 10 December and the results will be announced on Wednesday 12 December.
Issued by the press office.