Olympic legacy lives on in Pendle

Great Britain's Ed Clancy (left), Geraint Thomas (right), Steven Burke (second left) and Peter Kennaugh celebrate with their Gold medals in the Men's Team Pursuit Final during day seven of the Olympic Games at the Velodrome, London. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

We watched and celebrated every medal won – including that by Pendle’s own Stephen Burke in the cycling, five local residents carried the Olympic Torch and others volunteered in London.

But one year on, apart from the golden postbox in Albert Road, Colne, what is the legacy of the games for Pendle?

Our area has seen significant investment in sports facilities from Pendle Council, with £2m. invested in three new sports pavilions across the borough.

The first to open was at Bull Holme, Barrowford. It was officially opened late last year, followed by the unveiling of brand new facilities at Holt House, Colne, and Edge End, Nelson.

These three new pavilions follow the new facilities at Victory Park, Barnoldswick, in 2008.

We have seen new sports clubs launched, like the KBR Jujitsu Club at the Youth Zone in Nelson, which I was delighted to open late last year.

Some £50,000 was secured from Sport England for the Seedhill Athletics Track and will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark.

A number of our local sports clubs have also secured substantial new funding, including Colne and Nelson RUFC, Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club at Reedley, Pendle Forest Sports Club and the Burwain Sailing Club RYA Training Centre at Foulridge.

Another significant boost, coming shortly after the Colne Cycling Grand Prix and the “Ride with Brad” event in Barnoldswick, was the funding secured for a new Steven Burke Sports Hub. In total £308,000 will be invested in a cycling track and improved facilities at Swinden playing fields, giving a massive boost to cycling in the borough.

Along with a raft of positive surveys showing increased participation rates in sport and increased numbers of volunteers, it would seem that perhaps the Olympics will live up to their motto and “inspire a generation”.