A PROJECT to bring much-needed football pitches to Tavistock received a set-back this week with the news funding contributions from Tavistock College and Devon County Council had been reduced.
This has left the project requiring 85 per cent of the total project cost ?nearly £900,000 ? from a bid to the Football Foundation.
?The difficulties have become more difficult,? conceded borough deputy chief executive David Inman, at the economic, leisure and community development meeting in Okehampton on Tuesday.
Mr Inman said there was a need to ?move forward quickly? if the bid was to stand the best chance of succeeding.
Cllr Dick Eberlie said: ?This would be of enormous value, not only to Tavistock, but the whole of the south of the borough.?
He said he was disappointed Tavistock College had reduced its contribution to the scheme.
Cllr Nick Morgan, chair of the economic, leisure and community development committee said: ?I think it?s a very important scheme for Tavistock, which has taken some time to get the strategy agreed by all the groups. I feel we should still support the scheme.?
Mr Inman said Tavistock College had faced problems with flooding of its own pitches with drainage work about to be undertaken, and the college had to reduce their proposed contribution to the scheme by two-thirds, from £60,000 to £20,000. Devon County Council?s contribution had also reduced from £60,000 to £40,000.
Mr Inman said previously it had been hoped a bid for 80 percent of the total cost would be made to the Football Foundation ? the grant-giving wing of the Football Association.
However, the revised figures meant 84.4 percent of the project cost would now be required through a grant.
?I feel we are on the margins of making a reasonable request, any increase in the cost of the scheme or falling back in contributions would make it very difficult indeed,? said Mr Inman.
?If we are going for a grant, 85 per cent is ambitious, and to go higher would be over ambitious.?
Mr Inman said: ?The college has had its difficulties. They have only got so much resources. I wouldn?t want the impression to be given that the college are not doing their bit, but they have difficulties.?
Tavistock College?s playing fields will be out of action for the best part of a year, while work to drain the flood-prone pitches is carried out. The work will cost £90,000 and is being funded by Devon County Council.
This work has impacted on curriculum needs and coupled with educational budget problems, the college has had to reduce its contribution to the scheme.
?There is only one way to go on this one, and that is forward,? added Mr Inman.
Cllr Peter Hill, said: ?It is a very sad report. One understands the college?s problem, one wonders about the county council and their reduction.?
The Crowndale scheme would include a half-size rubber crumb all-weather pitch at Tavistock College, new changing blocks and other facilities at Langsford Park and four new grass pitches and improved facilities at the Crowndale Recreation Association site.
A report presented to the committee stated that if all goes well, the bid could be made within the next month.
The report stated, despite the fact a large bid was involved with a high percentage grant request, the bid had three strong points.
These were identified as ?The immediate proximity of the college, senior football and junior football in Tavistock; the degree of need and the availability of Community Club status for all the parties involved.?