New courts as Stoke Heath sports centre given £40,000 revamp
A Shropshire sports centre is undergoing a £40,000 revamp. Four badminton courts are being replaced at The Maurice Chandler Sports and Leisure Centre in Stoke Heath, near Market Drayton.
The work has cost £26,000 and most of the money has been raised by holding monthly car boot sales at the site.
A further £19,000 is also to be spent on relaying the artificial grass on the five-a-side pitch.
Pete Waters, chairman of the sports centre, said: "We are putting four new courts down because they have worn out. We are going to do all the courts but have to do it in stages as we have to raise the money.
"Our repair revenue money comes from the monthly car boot sales and we have raised this in about 12 months.
"We have got to look after the centre for future generations because there is a lack of sports facilities in north Shropshire.
"It is wonderful to see people in here playing sport, kids from five years old roller skating to 80 year olds playing bowls."
The badminton courts are being laid with vinyl to a competition standard and the work is expected to be completed in four weeks. The centre was given a £10,000 grant by the Walker Trust.
Senior supervisor Sarah Cartwright said it was 'exciting times' for the centre, which was opened in the 1960s by a former Market Drayton police officer who wanted to keep children off the streets.
It relies on donations and the next fundraising car boot sale will be this Sunday at 8am. Sellers can set up at 7am. The cost is £5 per table.
The centre will also run activities for children during half term including a multi sports programme, a craft club and roller skating sessions.
For more information or to book contact the centre on (01630) 638508.
