Appeal to save playing field association (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Appeal to save playing field association

10:30am Tuesday 24th November 2009

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An appeal has been launched to recruit new members for the King George V Playing Field Association in Newcastle Emlyn as with dwindling committee members its future lies in the balance.

The King George V Playing Field Association, who recently raised £900 by hosting the popular fireworks evening for the town’s new playground has this week lost three members due to family commitments and the long-term future of the committee remains in jeopardy. Unless new members join before January’s AGM, the charitable association may have to fold, threatening the future development of the park.

"The Playing Field is financed entirely by charitable donations,"said Sue Tabbitt, who joined the committee at the AGM last year. "Neither the county council nor the Newcastle Emlyn town council contribute towards it, so it is down to us to do and pay for everything from insurance to litter picking."It costs the committee around £3,000 a year just to keep the playing field ticking over."

The Association has received the £4,000 CAVS grant money it was awarded over the summer. Now the next piece of equipment, the Aeroskate, for older children can soon be installed.

A high, robust ‘sports net’ is also planned for around the basketball/sports wall area.

Drikje Vingerhoet, the committee’s current chair said: "It would be a great shame if we lost momentum now, so we are appealing for any passionate parents, or other committed community members, to come forward and join the committee."

Park Association committee member and town councillor, Fiona White told the town council on Thursday evening that it would be a ‘ travesty’ if the park was to be handed back to Carmarthenshire County Council.

She added: "It will be a sad reality if the park goes back to the state it was."

Mayor Cllr Peter Lewis agreed and added: " I’d hate to see it deteriorate and I’m sure other councillors wouldn’t want that either. You can’t just abandon it."

Cllr Cevin Evans suggested that local sporting groups could get involved and that maybe an astro pitch in the park would be an invaluable asset to the town.

Monthly meetings of the association take place at 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month at the Coopers Arms pub near CKs. All are welcome.

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