12:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013
By Kate Wilson
A MAJOR project has been revealed for a £100,000 refurbishment of youth facilities in Painswick.
The Painswick Pavilion Project has been orchestrated by the charity PSALMS to give the Lower Washwell Lane recreation ground a much needed overhaul.
Gloucestershire County Council has awarded £45,000 from the money received from selling the old village library building.
The parish council has promised £20,000 and a group of volunteers are in the process of applying for a £35,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund and a £15,000 grant from the Environmental Trust Grant.
Painswick parish clerk Roy Balgobin explained that regardless of whether or not the two grants can be secured, there will definitely be a revamp - it will just be done on a smaller scale.
"The plan is to improve the facilities and create a youth club and sports club for the use of various organisations in Painswick," said Mr Balgobin.
"One of the parish council's most important jobs is to provide adequate and safe youth facilities."
Andy Harding, a PSALMS youth minister who has worked in Painswick for five years, said: "At present, the facilities are poor and very run down especially in comparison to other clubs in the Stroud area.
"There is an assumption in Painswick that because it is a middle class area there isnÕt as great a need for youth provisions but that is not true."
The plans have been drawn up by architect Richard Falconer, who has lived in Painswick for nearly 30 years.
"I think it is terribly important that a village like Painswick pays as much attention to its community buildings as it does to its houses," said Mr Falconer.
The volunteers are still in the process of applying for funding but it is hoped the year long project will start in June.
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