Voices heard in Rastrick as winning project unveiled

Rastrick Junior Football Club has just got planning permission. Pictured are Jeremy Meadowcroft (Ground development Officer) & Dave Evans (Vice-chairman) look over their plans/drawings with smiles.

Run by Rastrick Big Local, the Voice Your Choice scheme gave the opportunity for the people of Rastrick to choose how they would like to see the Lottery funded money spent.

Rastrick Junior Football Club received 27 per cent of the 1,375 votes cast for its project to install changing rooms and toilets at its football ground.

Jeremy Meadowcroft, club facilities and development officer on behalf of the winning proposal from Rastrick Junior Football Club, said: “Rastrick Junior Football Club is absolutely delighted to be the winner of RBL’s Voice Your Choice.

“We see ourselves very much as a community football club and we would like to thank all those who voted for our proposal.

“The support means that with RBL’s investment of £25,000, together with other secured monies, we will be able to improve our facilities and install a modular building to provide changing rooms, toilets and a kitchen for the benefit of players, volunteers, parents and spectators.

“I think that RBL’s Voice Your Choice shows its commitment to putting local people first. Thanks to your votes and RBL’s Voice Your Choice we will make a big difference ”

As £25,000 will be invested in the winning project, the balance of £40,000, will be made available to the runner up.

The group is currently in discussions with Your Back Yard, the social enterprise leading this proposal, to see what can be achieved with this smaller investment.

Tony Mullin, of Your Back Yard, speaking for the runner-up’s bid, said: “First of all, of course, a huge thanks to all those who voted for us. It feels great to realise that so many people feel as passionate about this project as we do.

“And hats off to Rastrick Big Local who made such a huge effort through VYC to make sure everyone in Rastrick had a chance to have their say.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to work, improving play and recreational facilities in at least three local parks, and to working with local schools, community groups and Calderdale Council to make this happen.”

Peter Edwards, from RBL said: “We would like to thank all those who helped to make Voice Your Choice such a success – the local volunteers who delivered a voting form to each household, the local shops and Rastrick Library for acting as voting stations, all the groups who submitted proposals and especially the 1,375 local people who voted.”