Work kicks off on artificial football pitches in Hendesford
Work is well under way on a new artificial pitch project which will give footballers a new place to show off their skills in Hednesford.
Councillors from Cannock Chase District Council visited the site earlier this year to look at the plans for the artificial grass pitch, including a fenced and full-sized floodlit 3G artificial pitch, along with a new changing pavilion.
They are being built at the site of the former West Cannock Sports and Social Club on Bradbury Lane.
The council was given £390,039 from Sports England to use for the scheme, which will put the site back into action for sport and active use.
It had lain unused from 2008, before the work started. Its pavilion had been vandalised and the social club was in a state of disrepair. When the work started earlier this year, the council's portfolio leader Councillor Christine Mitchell said: "It has been a long process from the planning stage, so I am delighted that work will start on the artificial grass pitch this spring and summer.
"The council has a major role in contributing to the promotion and delivery of increased participation in sport, recreation and physical activity. This provision of a first class sports and recreation facility will meet the needs of the community and benefit the whole district." When the plans were first mooted Hednesford Town Council said it was 'extremely pleased' to see the progress on the site.
Before the plans were approved the district council said the project was 'to provide improved opportunities for club sport, as well as offering greater sport development, community club training and match play opportunities.'
Councillor Mitchell and her colleagues also visited the multi-use games area (MUGA) at Cannock Stadium off Pye Green Road as that neared completion earlier this year.
The MUGA will mean 11- to 16-year-olds can play football, basketball and cricket in a purpose built floodlit space.
