‘West Mills is more than just a field’

QUEEN'S FIELD Cllr Martyn Bolt with Chris Cobley, Trustee of Fields in Trust, Keith Johnson of Battyford Sports Club, Kirklees Parks manager Robert Whittaker, Maxine Green, Asda Community Life Champion and Sam Patterson from the Morley branch of ASDA.

West Mills Fields in Mirfield has been dedicated as Queen Elizabeth II fields, protecting it for recreational use.

The site, off Huddersfield Road, was visited by organisers Fields in Trust, which is running the royal protection scheme, the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.

The challenge was formed to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and London Paralympic Games, as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games, by protecting as many outdoor recreational spaces as possible.

Communities nominated fields to be protected before the public voted for its favourite sites.

West Mills is one of hundreds of fields protected under the scheme, which has a target of 2,012.

Mirfield councillor and Mayor of Kirklees Martyn Bolt (Con), said it was great news.

He said: “This is great, we have our field protected and retained for future generations. West Mills is more than just a field, it has paths ways, areas for fishing, cycling, football and or being with your family.”

The fields are home to Battyford Sports Club, which has more than 400 members.

The club was recently gifted with a new set of goal posts from Asda in Morley.