Sir.-As chairman of Tadley Town Council, I write to welcome the news of the signing of the Partnership Agreement for the Barlow Plantation site development reported in the Tadley Gazette last Friday.

I am sure local residents will be pleased to learn that the project is still moving forward.

The signing of the Partnership Agreement is proof of the hard work that has been put in over the last four years or so by the three parties involved.

The article acknowledged the input of the funds from the town council and the borough, but not the offer of funds and, more importantly, the land with planning consent, by the Barlows Plantation Environmental Trust (BPET).

Tadley residents will know that land for recreational use is in very short supply in our town and the scheme could not proceed without this area being made available.

The site, next to the Tadley Sunday Market, has been generously donated by Staceys to BPET for the benefit of Tadley residents.

The trust and its individual members have also contributed a great amount of information, supporting evidence and time to the final documentation, which was submitted to the Football Foundation for a grant by the partnership. All of this detail can only improve the chance of success for the bid.

The partnership now has to wait until the autumn to find out if their bid is successful. Success will mean that the £1.2m first phase of the scheme will be able to move forward rapidly and residents will at last see some improvements in sporting facilities for the town.

-Cllr Jo Slimin, Chairman, Tadley Town Council.