Work to start on new sports facilities in Stowmarket

A new trim-trail will be installed at Chilton Fields later this week, providing another facility which encourages more people to get active.

It is part of a wider project spearheaded by Mid Suffolk District Council for improved sport and wellbeing facilities on land surrounding Stowmarket High School and Chilton Fields. The plans follow extensive engagement with partner organisations and sports clubs.

In addition to the trim-trail, future work includes improvements to the pitches at Chilton Fields and school site, a new 3G pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), athletics mini-track, active track and cricket nets. There will also be improved connectivity routes with some car parking improvements. External grant funding applications, including National Lottery and Football Foundation, will also support the scheme delivery.

Cllr Tim Weller, cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing, said: “I am delighted the first work on this exciting project is getting underway.
“As a council, we have been dedicated to improving sports and facilities within Stowmarket. This scheme has lots of elements and it will take time to deliver them all - but it is great to get the ball rolling.
“These plans are ambitious, and we are confident they will be a great benefit for people in Stowmarket and neighbouring areas.”

The project was brought about to address a number of health inequalities in Stowmarket and wider district and in particular, the Chilton Ward, which often compares poorly against the local area and nationally.

The council has agreed to put £450,000 towards the £2.4million scheme, with the remaining funding already identified from a range of external sources alongside Section 106 contributions.

The plans for the area have been developed in conjunction with a number of stakeholders including Suffolk County Council, Stowmarket Town Council, local schools, the leisure centre, the NHS, Active Suffolk, local sports clubs, the Football Foundation and Sport England.

Due to the scale of the project, it has been split up into multiple work packages to allow work to start on certain aspects while other elements of the project are being developed and finalised.