VANDALS have hit a sports ground where a £340,000 project to revamp the facilities at playing fields used by three amateur teams has recently begun.

The run-down changing facilities at East Bierley playing fields are the focus of the transformation project by East Bierley Community Sports Association (EBCSA).

But the organisation was dealt a blow when vandals attacked the only remaining changing facilities, damaging the locks and spraying paint into them, as well as spray painting the building too.

As well as the cost in clearing up after the attempted break-in, EBSCA now fear they must improve security before the new facilities are up and running and that this will add additional costs to the project.

EBCSA secretary Simon Armitage said: “It’s just mindless vandalism but we’re determined that our work in the community will not be deterred by such acts and we’ll be taking steps to address this.

“Since we took over the site in May, this is the third act of damage with the first being the dug outs were vandalised, un-authorised campers caused fire damage and now this.

“The concern is we’ve worked so hard for the last four years to secure the funding to improve the facilities at the site so what will happen to these once built?

“It just makes the volunteers involved so angry and now funds which would have been used to better the facilities will now have to be diverted into security measures.”

He added that West Yorkshire Police’s crime prevention team had been extremely helpful and they were looking at extra measures such as fencing, lighting and CCTV, in an effort to deter further vandalism at the site.

EBCSA was set up by rugby and football teams Birkenshaw Bluedogs, Hunsworth AFC and East Bierley AFC, which have joined forces for the project.

The association has secured grants of £165,000, as well as a 20-year £175,000 loan and long-term lease from Kirklees Council.

Contractors have recently begun demolishing one of old changing facilities at the Hunsworth Lane site, while another structure is to remain in use as the work is carried out. It is this second facility that has been vandalised.

The group has secured a £125,000 grant from Sport England and the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, which will go towards the cost of building the new facilities.

In addition, a grant of £40,300 has been received from Kirklees Council through the New Homes Bonus.

The balance comes from the six-figure long-term Council loan and so the association is keen to encourage as many local people as possible to get involved in an effort to ensure the loan repayments can be met.

To support the association email enquiries@ebcsa.co.uk.

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