Multi-Use Games Arena Update

22 Feb, 2021

 

Hello everybody, some of you may have seen the Cricket Club Chairman’s Report a couple of days ago which mentioned the Planning Approval for the Multi-Use Games Arena (MUGA), as reported work will start on this immediately, and we will see changes happening and safety fencing being erected from tomorrow onwards at the back of the Barlow building.

Can everybody please bear with us over the next couple of months or so as we run through the amazing projects that will see us looking quite spectacular by Summer as the MUGA gets up and running, the new playground announced last week gets installed, the new roof for the Barlow building gets done, and the front of the building gets a fabulous facelift with new double glazed windows and doors……Not to mention the upgrades in the Barlow Woodlands that will happen as soon as Covid restrictions allow.

For those folk interested in what appears to be an age-old question about Cricket Club rent, I can also confirm that the first quarterly payment of £1000 on a new 25-year agreement on the MUGA will be made on April 1st.

Below is a plan of how the MUGA will take shape.

Copies of this plan and the detailed Planning Permissions are available below…

MUGA Planning Decision

MUGA Planning Report

Proposed Layout of 5 a side pitch

FRIENDS OF THE BARLOW

Blackburn with Darwen Council handed over the running and upkeep of The Barlow to the community in 2013. Since then The Barlow Charity has relied upon the generosity of benefactors and income from users of the facilities, plus the efforts of volunteers to sustain this much valued community facility. Significant improvements have been carried out to help ensure a long-term future, including a new roof, replacement windows, new hygienic worktops in the coffee shop kitchen and a new hot water & heating system. Most recently (summer 2022) the renovation of the outdoor veranda has been completed and a new adjacent decking area has been installed. In addition the snooker room has been restored to its former splendour by a small group of volunteers.

Continue Reading

An important source of funding that has contributed to the above mentioned improvements is The Friends of the Barlow scheme.  By becoming a Friend you can contribute to a fund that is used for repairs and renovations to the structural fabric of the building and pathways etc, and to upgrade, refresh and improve facilities e.g. now that the building is once again weathertight there are plans being drawn up for the main hall can be deep-cleaned, re-decorated and refurbished and other water-damaged areas such as the main stairway & its beautiful large, stained glass window to also be restored to their former glory.

As a Friend of The Barlow, your regular donations provide a much appreciated, steady income stream that to date (summer 2022) has raised in the region of over £40,000, which has been mostly used contributing towards paying for the roof, windows and heating system.
We intend to soon publish the overall list of improvements/tasks and from that you will see that there is a significant amount of expenditure still needed to achieve all of the identified tasks and improvements. We would welcome donations/sponsorship for specific items that may be of particular interest to individuals or families or groups, but the regular donations by Friends of The Barlow are also crucial. Therefore, we welcome any and all new donors and are grateful for whatever amount you choose to donate.

We are of course also very grateful to all of our existing Friends of The Barlow and if you are able to increase your monthly donation by any amount, that would be hugely appreciated – you can either make the increase to your standing order directly with your bank or you can complete a new form and send it to your bank or give it to us to process.

Please also consider increasing the value of your donation at no extra cost to you by using Gift Aid – as an example, an £8 donation from you becomes £10 with the Gift Aid add-on!

If you wish to donate please click on the link below, complete the form and either send it to your bank with an email copy to our email address fotb@thebarlow.co.uk  or return the completed form to the Barlow’s office in a sealed envelope addressed to Friends of The Barlow.  Paper copies of the form are available from The Barlow.

For any further information please email fotb@thebarlow.co.uk or contact the office via info@thebarlow.co.uk or 01204 852216.

Standing Order Form

Sign up to our Newsletter

You can sign up to our Newsletter below

You will receive all our News and Info direct to your Inbox when we have anything to say...

Sign up!

Follow us..