Athletics club granted lease to use race track at Berry Hill Park

Acting as trustees of the park, members of Mansfield District Council have agreed to allow the Mansfield Harriers Athletics Club to lease the track, pavilion and plant room for seven years at a cost of £500 a year.

The Harriers provide an athletics and running club for people aged nine and above and aim to involve as many Mansfield residents as possible.Councillor Andy Burgin, portfolio holder for environment and leisure, said: "Leasing these facilities to the Harriers should open the door to improvements at the athletics track at Berry Hill Park. This has to be a good thing for Mansfield and will encourage many more visitors to the park.

"It is very much in line with council priorities to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and to make Mansfield a greener and cleaner place."We look forward to working with the club and Friends group to raise the profile of the park and encourage more people to use it and take up sport and physical activity."

The proposed lease will not prevent the council from having access to the areas and facilities leased to the club. This is to ensure that other local events in the park that are not specific to the Harriers can still take place.

Pat Carlan, Chairman of Mansfield Harriers, said: "We now have the opportunity to develop both the club and the park.

“Next year will be an Olympic year which will attract interest and the club will be in a position to promote events in the park and look forward to making sure that this benefits the community.”