Isle’s £800,000 sports facility unveiled

An artist's impressions of the proposed sporting facility in Epworth.

The proposal for Epworth is expected to include a 3G football pitch, new pavilion, changing rooms and community room.

Based at South Axholme Academy and Epworth Leisure Centre, the facility is the brainchild of the Isle Education Trust, Epworth Town Colts Football Club and North Lincolnshire Council. Planning permission has been submitted for approval.

The partnership will see enhanced curriculum and extra curricular facilities for all Isle Education Trust institutions, evening and weekend community use as well as a long term training and playing base for Epworth Town Colts.

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The council is delighted to be working in partnership with the IET and Epworth Town Colts Football Club to develop new sports facility in Epworth.

“The project will provide first class facilities for users and build on the recent investment in new gym and changing rooms at Epworth Leisure Centre.”

Paul Barratt, chairman of IET commented: “We are committed to working in partnership with Epworth Town Colts, North Lincolnshire Council and the wider community of the Isle of Axholme. We want this facility to become the hub for physical activity and competitive sport.”

Epworth Town Colts chairman Mark Degnan also added: “This is a major development for the Colts. The club has grown significantly in recent years with over 17 teams and 200 hundred young people engaged in football each week. Securing a long term training base and home for the club has been a priority for its committee supported by the Lincolnshire FA.”

The cost of the project is approximately £800,000 with grant applications submitted to the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund, Sports England and £175,000 confirmed by North Lincolnshire Council.

The project has also been highlighted as a strategic priority for the county by the Lincolnshire FA Facilities Investment Group.

The project has progressed quickly and a planning application to North Lincolnshire Council has recently been submitted. If all goes to plan and the funding bids are successful, work is due to start in the summer of 2015 with the Football Turf Pitch being available for the 2015/16 season with the clubhouse being open early 2016.