By George! Work begins on new basketball half-court

WORK has begun to create a basketball half-court in Henley.

A digger began preparing the ground at Makins recreation ground in Greys Road earlier this week.

The project has been funded by Henley Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Tesco and the Thamesfield Youth Association.

The idea of the court was suggsted by George Allen, 12, in 2021 after he joined the Reading Rockets team and realised that people in Henley wanting to play basketball had to travel at least half an hour to be able to do so. George, a pupil at Gillotts School, told town councillors that more people would play the sport if there was a court in Henley.

A public consultation took place in August. Of the 116 respondents, 90 per cent stated a basketball hoop was needed and 91 per cent agreed that the recreation ground was the right location.

A town council spokeswoman said: “The work should take about a week so the court will be up and running for the start of August and the summer holidays. Thank you to local company, Collins & Lane, for their work on the project and to Southern Plant for offering free plant hire.”