SWINDON is being given nearly £1.4 million to improve sports facilities in the town's schools.

The handout from the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund will also be used to help promote the use of the facilities in the community.

Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Council's lead member for education, said: "This is exceptionally good news. I just wish they could give us more money for mainstream education as well.

"Sport is the centre of the community both inside and outside schools and is an essential part of our quality of life. Swindon schools have fine sporting traditions and I hope this money will allow them to continue to flourish."

The £1.36 million cash windfall is part of the biggest Lottery-funded sports programme from the fund, which is giving a total of £541 million to schools in England and Wales including £35.5 million across the South West.

The cash from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme is to be used to support the creation of new indoor and outdoor sports facilities and the modernisation of existing ones.

It will also be used to promote sport in the community and the wider use of sporting facilities. Outdoor adventure equipment for young people will also be given a facelift through the programme funding.

It is too soon to say exactly how the cash will be spent in Swindon.

Coun Perkins said the education authority will be meeting schools and sporting representatives and other strategic partners to decide how best to use the funding.

He said: "I am sure all schools will want some of the money, but I think it will be a case of looking at priority projects first."

Whatever projects are put forward, they will still have to be approved by the fund's organisers. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who yesterday met headteachers and leading sports figures to discuss methods of improving sport in schools, said the funding would create "vast new opportunities".

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, who chairs the fund, said the grants would "substantially change" the face of sport provision in schools and communities.

"In providing many more people, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the opportunity to engage in a range of physical activities, we can help build a more inclusive and healthier society," she said.

Sixteen education authorities in the South West will benefit from the grant including Cornwall (£4.5 million), Bristol (£4.4 million) and Devon (almost £4 million).

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