SOUTH Downs National Park Authority may be doing a lap of honour at a Petersfield school after stepping in to save a running track bid that had run out of steam.
The Petersfield-based Runny Honeys had been desperately fundraising to raise enough, thought to be in the region of £70,000, to provide an all weather running track at Herne Junior School in Love Lane.
But a fortnight ago it appeared the bid had crashed and burnt after it failed to win funding in the vote driven Aviva Community Fund competition.
Despite garnering a massive 35,000 votes, it came second, and didn’t win the support of the judges, who awarded the money to a Lancashire charity for a dating agency.
But unexpectedly, through the efforts of East Meon East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council member Rob Mocatta, the national park has stepped in and could be about to save the day.
South Downs National Park Authority head of planning Tim Slaney said: “We are working closely with the school on the detail of this exciting application.
“We do have a sum of money available and, subject to final approval, we are expecting to be able to make a contribution.
“We look forward to sharing more detail on this community project in the coming weeks.”
It’s understood the money the national park is holding, thought to be to build the track, became available after an earmarked developers contribution was freed up.
The developer could have kept it, but instead generously decided to make it available for the running track project.