Residents vote on how to spend �22,500 of community funding

A skate park and an outdoor gym were the most popular choices when Colyton residents voted on what new sports facilities they wanted.

More than 200 parishioners took part in a series of polls to say how �22,500 of recreation funding should be spent.

The money has been provided by housing developers – Section 106 cash – which is earmarked for community projects in the whole area covered by Colyton Parish Council.

An appeal for ideas about how to spend it, earlier this year, produced a range of suggestions from parish residents, organisations, voluntary and community groups.

Those that were eligible for funding were the proposals that residents got to vote on at the Colyton Church Fete on August 11. These included an outdoor gym, a skate park, a fitness trail, cycling practice area for children, a sports activity wall and an adult assault course.

The skate park, with a small number of ramps, in Colyton playing field, was the most popular choice, with 55 per cent of the votes. It is projected to cost the entire �22,500.

The all-age outdoor gym, expected to cost �15,000, was runner up, with 38 per cent of the votes. In third place, with 29 per cent, was a sports activity wall, costing �11,000.

The results have been ratified by Colyton Parish Council which now awaits the release of funding from East Devon District Council.