Funding of an additional £100,000 from the London Marathon Charitable Trust has just been awarded to carry out works to the playing fields at Hervey Road, part of plans by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to build a new pavilion and bring improved local sports facilities to the area.
At the heart of the development will be a single-storey pavilion containing changing facilities, a multi-function café space and a small office. The site will also include a fully inclusive play area along with a multi-use games area, and football and cricket pitches. The additional support from the London Marathon Charitable Trust will go towards improving drainage for the playing field and new cricket squares.
The site will be fully inclusive, offering a range of activities including wheelchair rugby, girls and women’s football, cricket for all ages and abilities, and family events for the wider community.
The Royal Borough has had significant financial support in the development of the project, with funds from London Marathon Charity Trust and Sport England. The cost of the project will be around £1.4m and will be met predominantly with external funding, with the Council putting in £1 for every £3 secured elsewhere.
Councillor Denise Scott-McDonald, Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative Industries and Community Well-Being, said: “The site has been underused as a sports facility for a number of years and has also been prone to illegal encampments, which have caused disruption for local residents and to the Council in terms of enforcement to leave and clearing up of detritus left by them. These works will help secure the site from further encroachment, but more importantly, provide a local sporting facility and continued green space for local residents to enjoy.
“We fully recognise the importance of the Hervey Road playing field to the local community and that’s why the Deed of Dedication protects the site as a playing field for them, and ensures that residents will still be able to access the playing fields to play informal games and go for walks.”
There will be minimal disturbance for residents during the building phase as the pavilion is being made offsite and will then be assembled at Hervey Road in stages. Works to the grounds have already started and the development is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2018.
