Tavistock&Villages Initiative

The following profiles of sports and leisure facilities in the Tavistock area have been extracted from ‘A Leisure Strategy for West Devon 2000-2006’, updated and supplemented by local knowledge:

Bere Alston 1 bowling green and clubhouse managed by bowling club. 1 recreational field with 3 football pitches (1 senior and 2 junior) and 1 cricket pitch. Extensive community use of primary school includes badminton (2 court hall) and gymnastics (both clubs meet 3 times a week).

Bere Ferrers Playing field with one goal; possibly room for a bigger pitch. Bere Ferrers Village Group want to refurbish field with MUGA, cycle track and skateboard park.

Brentor Cricket ground managed by Brentor CC.

Buckland Monachorum Village hall available for aerobics, line-dancing, Pilates, short mat bowls, etc. Junior football pitch on primary school field, which is poorly drained.

Clearbrook Table tennis club meets in village hall.

Crapstone Football, rugby and cricket pitches in village. 2 rough moorland football pitches by Pound.

Gulworthy Small grass area at primary school.

Horrabridge 2 football pitches at Fillace Park. Community Hall managed by Community Association has 2 badminton courts, indoor bowls, aerobics and karate. Primary school hall is available for community use but appears to be well-underused.

Lamerton Recreation field with 6-a-side football pitch for local use.

Lydford Sports field with 1 cricket pitch (Lydford CC) and space for football, but it is remote from centre. Village hall with badminton court and table tennis; also well used for indoor bowls, keep fit etc.

Mary Tavy Recreation field with 1 shared football and rugby pitch. Cricket pitch and 2 derelict tennis courts. Village hall has badminton and table tennis.

Meavy Primary school is seeking to make playing field on adjacent land.

Milton Abbot Cricket ground managed by Milton Abbot CC. Primary school has mini-football and 3ha field to be developed.

Milton Combe Judo club uses village hall.

Princetown Area owned by prison used by community for football with arranged access. Primary school has only small tarmac surface. Demand clearly outstrips provision for 1000+ local residents.

Walkhampton 2 football pitches on village hall playing field.

Yelverton 1 cricket pitch managed by cricket club. 3 hard tennis courts and bowling green managed by clubs. 1 football pitch managed by memorial trust. 1 badminton court in village hall and 1 court in church hall. Golf club manages 18-hole course on Roborough Down.

Tavistock Two 18-hole golf courses (Hurdwick and Tavistock Clubs). Squash club has 2 courts in Pixon Lane. 3 football pitches (1 senior, 1 inter and 1 junior) at Crowndale site. 1 football pitch at Langsford Park (AFC and Ladies FC). 2 rugby pitches at Sandy Park (Rugby Club). 1 junior football pitch on Whitchurch Down. Cricket pitch at Whitchurch House (Wayfarers CC) and pitch at The Oval (Tavistock CC). Meadowlands 25m swimming/leisure pool. Meadows bowling greens and 8 all- weather tennis courts (5 floodlit). Kelly College 4-lane 25m pool and gym.

Tavistock Community College has a 4-court sports hall, gym, hard courts, pitches (which are prone to water-logging), a fitness suite and an outdoor pool. The college facilities are managed by Tavistock Community Recreation Association (see below) out of school hours.

TACRA Tavistock Community Recreation Association (TACRA) is a partnership of local community groups and the local authority (WDBC) that arranges community use so as to facilitate the widest possible range of activities to the maximum public benefit. TACRA employs a facilities manager and is involved in the delivery of sports programmes in the area, including after-school sport and outreach to non-players.

CRA Crowndale Recreation Association (CRA) is made up of sports clubs, Borough and Town Council representatives and local people interested in sport. It aims to develop the Crowndale site (which is adjacent to the Community College) for an all-weather athletic track, football and cricket pitches, a BMX track and a pavilion. Funding bids have so far received a qualified refusal.

	S5.1 Condition and use of sports and leisure facilities
	The following profiles of sports and leisure facilities in the Tavistock area have been extracted from ‘A Leisure Strategy for West Devon 2000-2006’, updated and supplemented by local knowledge: Bere Alston 1 bowling green and clubhouse managed by bowling club. 1 recreational field with 3 football pitches (1 senior and 2 junior) and 1 cricket pitch. Extensive community use of primary school includes badminton (2 court hall) and gymnastics (both clubs meet 3 times a week). Bere Ferrers Playing field with one goal; possibly room for a bigger pitch. Bere Ferrers Village Group want to refurbish field with MUGA, cycle track and skateboard park. Brentor Cricket ground managed by Brentor CC. Buckland Monachorum Village hall available for aerobics, line-dancing, Pilates, short mat bowls, etc. Junior football pitch on primary school field, which is poorly drained. Clearbrook Table tennis club meets in village hall. Crapstone Football, rugby and cricket pitches in village. 2 rough moorland football pitches by Pound. Gulworthy Small grass area at primary school. Horrabridge 2 football pitches at Fillace Park. Community Hall managed by Community Association has 2 badminton courts, indoor bowls, aerobics and karate. Primary school hall is available for community use but appears to be well-underused. Lamerton Recreation field with 6-a-side football pitch for local use. Lydford Sports field with 1 cricket pitch (Lydford CC) and space for football, but it is remote from centre. Village hall with badminton court and table tennis; also well used for indoor bowls, keep fit etc. Mary Tavy Recreation field with 1 shared football and rugby pitch. Cricket pitch and 2 derelict tennis courts. Village hall has badminton and table tennis. Meavy Primary school is seeking to make playing field on adjacent land. Milton Abbot Cricket ground managed by Milton Abbot CC. Primary school has mini-football and 3ha field to be developed. Milton Combe Judo club uses village hall. Princetown Area owned by prison used by community for football with arranged access. Primary school has only small tarmac surface. Demand clearly outstrips provision for 1000+ local residents. Walkhampton 2 football pitches on village hall playing field. Yelverton 1 cricket pitch managed by cricket club. 3 hard tennis courts and bowling green managed by clubs. 1 football pitch managed by memorial trust. 1 badminton court in village hall and 1 court in church hall. Golf club manages 18-hole course on Roborough Down. Tavistock Two 18-hole golf courses (Hurdwick and Tavistock Clubs). Squash club has 2 courts in Pixon Lane. 3 football pitches (1 senior, 1 inter and 1 junior) at Crowndale site. 1 football pitch at Langsford Park (AFC and Ladies FC). 2 rugby pitches at Sandy Park (Rugby Club). 1 junior football pitch on Whitchurch Down. Cricket pitch at Whitchurch House (Wayfarers CC) and pitch at The Oval (Tavistock CC). Meadowlands 25m swimming/leisure pool. Meadows bowling greens and 8 all- weather tennis courts (5 floodlit). Kelly College 4-lane 25m pool and gym. Tavistock Community College has a 4-court sports hall, gym, hard courts, pitches (which are prone to water-logging), a fitness suite and an outdoor pool. The college facilities are managed by Tavistock Community Recreation Association (see below) out of school hours. TACRA Tavistock Community Recreation Association (TACRA) is a partnership of local community groups and the local authority (WDBC) that arranges community use so as to facilitate the widest possible range of activities to the maximum public benefit. TACRA employs a facilities manager and is involved in the delivery of sports programmes in the area, including after-school sport and outreach to non-players. CRA Crowndale Recreation Association (CRA) is made up of sports clubs, Borough and Town Council representatives and local people interested in sport. It aims to develop the Crowndale site (which is adjacent to the Community College) for an all-weather athletic track, football and cricket pitches, a BMX track and a pavilion. Funding bids have so far received a qualified refusal.
	The following comments were made during surveys for the Leisure Strategy 2000-2006: ‘Area for changing facilities and showers required’ Milton Combe Judo Club ‘New grass cutting and pitch preparation machinery required.’ Yelverton Cricket Club ‘Changing and shower facilities needed at ground. Club has to rely on fund raising to keep going. The facilities in the area are only adequate but could be so much better.’ Walkhamton Football Club ‘…..take over derelict land where used to have field for football and cricket and tennis courts. Would like a community hall (in Princetown).’ Dartmoor Forest Parish Council ‘……Many feel that school sports facilities are badly lacking – school does not have sports field. Much scope for improvements in provision and standard of facilities.’ Mary Tavy Parish Council ‘Membership has decreased as no young people playing cricket.’ Milton Abbot Cricket Club ‘Good quality football pitches for juniors are in short supply in Tavistock and surrounding area.’ Thistles Youth FC ‘Tavistock’s sports facilities are poor compared to other towns.’ Tavistock Ladies FC ‘Meadowlands is not suitable for competitive swimming/galas. This makes training very difficult and limits opportunities for young swimmers in West Devon…………Compared with many other areas in the South West, our facilities are poor.’ Tavistock Swimming Club
	Strategic Aims: Culture, Media, Sports & Leisure; Develop and improve community facilities