Residents of Witham's Templars estate were jubilant after achieving most of the funding needed to rejuvenate their four-acre green.

The Templars Green Management Committee has now raised a total of £190,000 in grants and donations, including money from the Environment Agency, the town council and the district council, and is ready to start working to turn the old play area into a properly designed doorstep green.

However, it will need to get a a further £60,000 for the play equipment in grants from different sources later in the year.

The neglected four acres off Bronte Road will include play spaces, hard areas for sports, and landscaped picnic places for community use, as well as a community office decorated and equipped by the residents.

The project was given an official blessing on Monday by Alun Michael, Minister for Rural Affairs, and MP Alan Hurst, who were shown round the green by project leader Neil Coughlan.

Mr Coughlan said later that the land was largely wasted at the moment. Its mounded shape meant it could not be used for sport.

It would first of all be levelled, then a toddler area built near the shops.

A hard five-a-side football pitch and a teen shelter for the older youngsters would come next, then seats and gardens for older people.

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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