PLANS for a new £110,000 sporting facility on the Solway are gathering pace as funding continues to accumulate.

Silloth on Solway Sports Association hope to build their own MUGA (multi-use games area) on the fields of Silloth RUFC.

The town’s rotary club has recently pledged to donate £1,655 to the project, taking the total raised to more than £3,000 with crowdfunding donations.

Sport England has promised to match-fund any amount raised by the association and various bodies have promised large amounts in principle.

However, it is vital that as much money is raised as possible, as the more is raised the more will be matched by Sport England.

Secretary of Silloth on Solway Sports Association, Colin Baty, said: “Sport England has promised us some money in principle, but they said we would have to set up a crowd-funding page to raise £3,000 and they would then match-fund it.”

When is it hoped building on the project will begin?

“I would like to think we will be starting this early next year, it is doable”, explained Colin.

“The only thing we are waiting on is the planning application. I have done a similar one in France, so it will probably take us between four and six weeks to complete.”

There is a real need for the facility in the town, explained Colin.

"There is nothing like this in a 13 mile radius, there are a number of sports clubs on the Solway who are looking to use it.

"We have interest from Silloth Golf Club, Silloth Rugby Club and also schools in the area."

The closest facility of this type is in either Maryport or the other side of Wigton, which is a long way to go for sports practice.

A facility like this has long been in the pipeline, according to Colin.

"It is something we've been looking at for many years now, but it's just never got off the ground. I have now decided to really go for it.

"So I appealed for Sport England funding, I did that around April time this year and they said a few months later that they were interested in our idea.

"Well they have now accepted, we are now trying to get a planning application to Allerdale Borough Council."

The 40m x 30m facility will be used for a wide variety of sports, including football, hockey, basketball and target golf.

To donate to the project, visit: https://bit.ly/2B0v10q.