Little Weighton Playing Fields Association

The playing Field continues to be used by many people of all ages in the village, both by football teams, football training, and generally to play in and have fun. The Wei Tots now use the changing rooms, and the playing equipment in the steel container, together with the public playing equipment. I have been up twice in the last month on a weekend when the football teams were playing, looking at some repairs that were needed to the changing rooms. I and stopped for a while to watch the football match, both teams were playing very enthusiastically and I enjoyed watching the match.

The land used by the playing field, is owned by East Riding Council and the Playing Fields Association pay East Riding to lease the land, and for them to cut the grass each year. The present lease cost £700 per year, and £650 per year, to have the grass cut. The most single expensive cost per year for the Playing Field is our Insurance, to cover third party liability, buildings and contents; this is now £1,900 per year. We look for better quotes each year for all our services, the insurance cost 3 years ago was £2,500. We reduced the Insurance cost by joining a group of Playing Fields using the same Insurance Company. This Insurance cover is for, third party insurance, insurance of all of the buildings on the land, all the equipment, including the Bowls Club facility. Over the past few years the costs to run the Playing Fields have varied, but as an average the cost to run the Playing Field is £6,500 per year.

The Playing Field lease from East Riding Council for a compatible size Playing Field to our Playing Field area is £1,200 to £1,500 per year. Our cost of £700 per year, for our lease, is subject to the Playing Fields Committee, raising £8,000 in the next two years for new equipment, in addition to the £3,500 we now raise each year to keep the Playing Fields open. Rowley Parish Council contributes with a grant of £3,000 each year towards the running cost of £6,500 per year for the Playing Fields, without which we would not be able to manage to meet the running costs each year.

No great surprise then that we are looking for people, companies, or any organizations to help us to raise money to support the running of the Playing Fields. At present we have financial support from the football teams that use the Playing Fields; the under 12 year olds football team that train on the Playing Field, The Wei Tots that now use the playing field, and the Bowls Club. We also have support from Rowley Manor each year for our Summer Ball, if you have not been lucky enough to be at this event, you should book now for 2009, it is a highlight of any ones calendar. We have many other supporters, such as Mike Taylor who acts as a grounds man, point of contact for various organizations, others that assist with the closing and opening of the gate to control access to the Playing Fields. There are many other people who help in the running of the playing fields, in great varieties of ways. Some who contact the committee with things they have done, others who just from respect or love of the Village / Playing Field do a range of actions that improve the facilities at the Playing Fields. Any support would be appreciated, as at present the work of the Playing Fields Committee reduce the true cost to the Village for the Playing Fields by over 50%.

All of the Playing Fields committee were very fond and had great respect for Pat Byass, the Little Weighton Playing Field President, who sadly died this year. Pat Byass was one of the founding members of the Playing Fields Association, and with her husband Charlie Byass carried out a lot of the work to give the land to the East Riding Council for the Parish of Rowley to be used as a Playing Field, and helped with the physical work to transform the land as it is now. We have support each year from David Byass and his family at the Christmas lights with their steam organ, the Post Office for the donation of gifts for the children at the Christmas lights, along with a number of Father Christmas, and his various helpers every year, to give presents to all the young children of the Village. Also we have help and support from many, who give for the Christmas hamper, and other presents for all who attend. The Christmas lights are erected around the pond each year by volunteers, who now have to comply with all the new regulations, we must thank all of the helpers over the years who give of their time for the switch on, and all of the enjoyment we have from the lights, from mid December till early January each year.

We thank Rowley Parish Council, who two years ago bought new low voltage lights and additional lights for the pond. The Black Horse pub for being there to allow the use of the car park, Lounge and bar that we have filled and had a great Village event taking place in the Pub each year.

If you have any questions regarding the Playing Fields or would like to assist in any way to help with the running of the Playing Fields please give me a ring 842570
Ken Davison, Little Weighton Playing Fields Association

Playing Fields Association Fund Raising Events

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