DEVON County Council's leader and deputy leader visited Tavistock College this week to inspect the progress of an ambitious £3-million sports development with competition-quality facilities.
Work started last summer on the development. The full-size, all-weather football pitch is now complete and the competition standard athletics track will be ready for the summer.
The redevelopment of the college's sports centre, which will include an activity hall, an air conditioned dance studio and fitness suite, upgraded and additional changing rooms, a new reception area and community cafeteria, will also be finished this summer.
County council leader Brian Greenslade and deputy leader John Smith yesterday (Wednesday) joined college principal Colin Eves, Tavistock county councillor Roy Connolly and other guests to inspect the work so far.
The scheme has been funded by a broad partnership which includes Tavistock College, Devon County Council, Sport England, the Football Foundation, the National Sports Foundation, Kelly College, Tavistock Athletic Club, West Devon Borough Council and Tavistock Town Council, alongside local community fundraising.
Mr Eves said: 'These projects will provide facilities of the quality our local community deserves.
'We will be able to host team game fixtures throughout the year on the two floodlit pitches and better meet the demands for indoor facilities for activities as wide-ranging as dance, archery, carpet bowling, aikido and any other interests that come from the community.
'Fifteen local sports clubs are already signed up to the Sports Hub that will operate from the facility.
'And we have appointed a community sports delivery manager, Liz Tapper, to increase participation in activity across the community and help develop the more talented to enable them to progress to the highest levels. She takes up her post on March 1.'
Devon County Council has contributed more than £1-million towards the project.
Mr Greenslade said: 'This superb new sports facility in Tavistock will enable local children and young people of all ages to get involved in a wide variety of activities, sports and dance.
'The success of this project is testament to the strength of partnership-working in the Tavistock community, and to the many individuals involved in the project who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.
'We saw the huge enthusiasm which the Bejing Olympics engendered last year and this project will provide the highest quality sports facilities for West Devon.'