Preferred site chosen for £2m sports hub
JON MACPHERSON
HIGHAMS Playing Fields have been chosen as the ‘preferred site’ for a £2 million community sports hub.
Accrington Stanley Community Trust launched a feasibility study earlier this year to find a location for the sports hub with the Accrington playing fields earmarked as one of two possible sites.
The proposed facility will include a full size floodlit 4G pitch, multiple grass pitches and a community building which includes changing rooms, class rooms, a cafeteria and offices for the Community Trust.
The trust have confirmed that their chosen site is now Highams Playing Fields after the alternative option off Livingstone Road was ‘unavailable’.
Martin Fearon, community trust manager, said a four-month study has now been completed on the Highams site and that a ‘very in-depth’ 100page document has been produced which will be provided to Hyndburn council and other ‘key partners’.
He said: “Livingstone Road is unavailable and the only available option to us that the council are offering is Higham’s Playing Fields.
“We have appointed an architect to get it drawn up and we will then look at the planning process which will involve public consultation. We will be releasing the designs to the public in the next few months as we go through the planning process.’’
The trust’s board of trustees have selected Campbell Driver Partnership to lead on the architectural work. Trust bosses hope the hub will increase participation in sport, improve health and exercise levels and provide more opportunities for disabled people to access vital sport and education activities. A car park will be built on site which will ease traffic congestion on Thorneyholme Road.
The hub will also develop employability skills for people out of work, create new job opportunities, inspire people to become volunteers for local sports organisations, sports clubs and charities, and provide a ‘pathway for gifted and talented young people into elite sport’.
Hyndburn council leader Coun Miles Parkinson said: “We are looking forward to the report being given to the council.
“This will be a very major investment from the FA and community trust to benefit all the area and get more people playing sport.”
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