PEOPLE in the parish of East Budleigh with Bicton have had their say on how to spend money on outdoor sports in the town - they've decided that they want an outdoor table tennis table.

In a joint project run between East Budleigh with Bicton Parish Council and East Devon District Council, residents voted on how they would like £3,450 to be spent on outdoor sports in the town.

Over 130 East Budleigh with Bicton parish residents took part in the voting and 58 percent of them chose the outdoor table tennis table, which will cost £2,500.

The funding for these projects (Section 106 money) is available as a result of the creation of two new homes in the parish.

Section 106 money is collected from developers and spent by EDDC, which has opted to involve the community in how it allocates these funds.

Last year people who live in the East Budleigh with Bicton parish were asked how they would like £3,450 of this Section 106 sports funding to be spent. Two eligible and affordable proposals were received from individuals, community groups and sports organisations. These were for outdoor exercise equipment or an outdoor table tennis table.

At the East Budleigh Scarecrow Festival on 14 June residents were asked by EDDC and East Budleigh Parish Council to vote on which of these proposals they most wanted to see happen.

Whilst a good number of people took part, pollsters were short of respondents under the age of 20, so they then gathered in some extra votes at the primary school.

These results will now be presented to East Budleigh with Bicton Parish Council for ratification.

Cllr Jennifer Ware, Chairman of East Budleigh with Bicton Parish Council said: "" The whole event was most successful and the Parishioners were very enthusiastic, to be given the opportunity to vote for their choice of sport's equipment for the Village"

Councillor Iain Chubb, EDDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We are committed to making sure that local people have their say about where money from developments in their parish gets spent, and are one of the few local authorities that do so. Thank you to all the people that voted at the Scarecrow Festival. I look forward to seeing the table tennis table in use in the village.”

The remaining £950 will remain in the pot for East Budleigh with Bicton Parish Council to spend on sport in the future as more Section 106 money is accumulated.