25 October 2006
Eastbourne Borough Council’s project Goodbye Red Gra, Hello Tarmac, has won a place on a final list of projects going forward to the public vote to decide who receives the £50,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund on ITV Meridian, South East. This is your chance to decide where lottery money is distributed.
The project would involve the resurfacing of Archery Recreational Ground in Seaside, including a dividing fence to allow it to be utilised for different activities. The bid includes providing new goals and line markings for other sports such as street soccer, netball, basketball, street skating and tennis. At present the pitch is in a run down state and is under used by the local community.
The aim of this project is to not only improve the visual appearance of the area but also to increase the community’s use of these facilities free of charge.
Local young people from Kingsmere have had weekly football sessions at the site funded by the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership but during wet weather and the winter the playing surface becomes unusable. Young people from Kingsmere joined Eastbourne Borough Council for a filming session by ITV to promote the project.
The project will be featured on the ITV South East regional evening news programme at 6 o clock on 14th November. The viewing public will be asked to choose between our project and Pelham Community Play Project (Laughton School Association). The one that receives the most votes will be declared the winner and offered a grant of £50,000.
Phone and text lines will be open from 9am till midnight on the 14 November. The voting line number and text number will be revealed on the day in the Daily Mirror and on Meridian local news.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Lucas said "This is a really exciting project, and I'd ask everyone in Eastbourne to support it by texting their vote in on the 14 November. People power can win this, and if we all send a text in, young people in Eastbourne will be the winners, with a superb new facility."
If you would like a reminder to vote with the voting number on the day please register your interest by e-mailing
youth@eastbourne.gov.uk or by phone on 01323 415403.
