New sports activity wall for Honiton

Honiton Town Council and East Devon District Council have worked together to provide Honiton residents with a brand new sports activity wall.

The £15,000 sports wall is due to be put into Allhallows recreation field before the end of June and will be free of charge to users. The wall will have markings and a goal for five-a-side football, basketball or netball and cricket.

The project has been funded by Section 106 money, which has been collected by the council from the developers responsible for several new housing schemes in Honiton. We then involve the community in how these funds are allocated.

Last year, East Devon District Council and a group of Honiton Town Councillors asked community groups, residents and other organisations to put forward their ideas as to how £50,000 of available Section 106 sports funding should be spent. Three eligible and affordable potential proposals were submitted, including an idea for the sports activity wall, which a local resident championed after talking to a group of young people about what they would like to see the money used for.

East Devon District Council usually works closely with the town council to introduce a list of possible projects to the community and to encourage local residents to vote on the ideas they want to see realised. This wasn’t necessary here as all the projects could be funded within the £50,000 budget. A group of Honiton town councillors then chose the final design of the sports activity wall.

We have agreed to pay the ongoing maintenance and inspection costs of the sports activity wall once it is in place.