Colchester Borough Council and The Gilberd School are set to invest over £100K to improve Leisure World Highwoods and the school’s shared netball facilities.
The investment will ensure local netball in Colchester can be enjoyed by netball leagues and clubs who hire the facilities from Leisure World Highwoods.
The investment will be used to upgrade court lighting, resurface two courts, recoat and reline eight courts and ensure all ten courts will have new posts, nets and padding.
Cllr Sue Lissimore, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Deputy Leader of the council said: “I am please the council can provide for netball in Colchester with support from local ward councillors and the school. The netball facilities at Highwoods have been enjoyed for decades and over a period of time the lighting has gradually failed and there has been other issues with surfacing which reduced the capacity for matches to be played. This investment will ensure even more residents and visitors can enjoy netball in our borough.
“I would like to thank the netball participants for their patience and understanding as we worked to secure the funding.”
The project has enjoyed £86,000 from Colchester Borough Council’s Section 106 grant funding, £6,000 from Highwood’s ward councillor’s locality budget and a further £4,000 from the 2022 Highwood’s Locality Budget, with the rest of the investment being paid for by The Gilberd School.
Mrs Linda Exley, Executive Headteacher of The Gilberd School, said: “The Gilberd School is delighted to receive this funding from the council towards refurbishment of our outdoor sports facilities, specifically those which will benefit the Colchester Netball League and of course our students. Our Multi-Use Games Areas are in daily use, and we thank all involved in securing this investment in sport at The Gilberd School.”
Cllr Gerard Oxford, Highwoods ward councillor, added: “I am delighted to have been able to help deliver the funding from CBC and to use our Ward Locality Budget to support netball in Highwoods. It will encourage local children and adults to play netball and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of team sports.”
If you would like to hire the courts at Leisure World Highwoods, visit colchesterleisureworld.co.uk/highwoods
Pictured above: The Gilberd School students Riyan Bhat (on the right) and Glynnis Naol (on the left), with The Gilberd School staff Claire Pharaoh and from Colchester Netball League, Linda Gaine, along with Cllr Sue Lissimore, Cllr Gerard Oxford, Cllr Beverley Oxford.
Page last reviewed: 16 March 2022