THE Mayor of Presteigne and Norton town council Cllr Colin Kirkby officially opened a new multi use games area in Presteigne recently. Present at the event were town councillors, Chris Davies MP, Kirsty Williams AM, Jeremy Paterson chief executive officer, Steve Geally and Jody Owen of Powys County Council, plus members of Presteigne Colts, the tennis club and the public. Also at the event was PCSO Anna Bowen who was offering free security markings for bikes.

Before officially opening the facility Colin welcomed everyone and said “It was back in June 2012 when the town council had exciting news from our clerk Tracey saying that she had had a long conversation with Steve Geally the PCC outdoor recreation officer, who was looking into the complete refurbishment of tennis courts with new fencing, resurfacing and the division of the courts into two areas, one for tennis and the other for a multi-use games area. After much discussion and delay, finally just over three years on we have this fantastic new facility for Presteigne and Norton. It was also part of the condition of having this new facility that the town council would take over responsibility of ownership and PCC would transfer the ownership of the Wilson Terrace playing field as part of the asset transfer. Funding for the works was provided by both the town and county council so the town council is now the proud owner of a great new sports facility and the missing piece of the jigsaw in the green belt the town council has created over the last 25 years on the western edge of town from the Withy Beds around through Wents Meadow and linking up to Eddie’s Meadow and the Warden.

"It is hoped that we will form a group to encourage to use of the facility and apply for grants to buy equipment and arrange for coaching sessions for the various sports that want to use this great new facility. If you are interested in helping with this please call our clerk Tracey on 01547 528575.”

Colin then thanked clerk Tracey Price and Jody Owen Community Sports development officer for Presteigne and Knighton who have both worked hard to put together today’s opening with a great programme of training for tennis and football skills also to the coaches and parents at Presteigne St Andrew’s Colts FC for running these sessions, Dyfed Powys Police who were there to security mark bikes, Tennis Wales for their donation of T-shirts and freebies for the event and to Club Sports of Kington who donated a mystery prize to be raffled.

After the opening there was tennis coaching and games in the new facility.