Pétanque players bouled over by new piste

The first pétanque piste in the High Peak is open for business following a £16,000 grant from Tarmac’s Landfill Communities Fund.

Based at Cote Heath Park in Buxton alongside a redesigned skate park that cost £250,000, it marks the start of a new era for High Peak Pétanque Club who had previously played their games on a gravel car park. 

Damien Greenhalgh, deputy leader of HPBC, said: "It's fantastic to see these two new community play facilities now open and being well used after our significant investment boosted by funding from partners. 

"I'd like to thank the local community for their involvement in the skate park project and Tarmac and the Pétanque Club for their support with the provision of the piste - the first one in High Peak. 

"We're committed to helping people lead healthy, active lives and projects like these help to provide a diverse range of opportunities for people from across the Borough to get moving more, enjoy being outdoors and perhaps try something they haven't done before." 

The dedicated surface hosted its first event on Sunday March 23 when teams from Marple, New Mills and Leek entered a friendly tournament won by the home side, with the Mayor of High Peak Stewart Gardner watching from the sideline. 

Pétanque is a form of boules, which also includes similar sports such as bocce, boccia and lawn bowls.