Date set for sports site opening

Sports pitches and a skate park are set to be unveiled more than a year after work began on land in a village near Cannock.

The £120,000 project has transformed a recreation ground in Huntington.

A full-size football pitch, two junior pitches, a skate park and changing rooms in converted shipping containers are among the facilities at the site off Stafford Road, which will be officially opened next week.

There will be a fun event to launch the site, called Kick Off for Promise, which is raising money for Wolverhampton-based children's charity Promise Dreams.

Original proposals were for a £250,000 project but Huntington Parish Council were not able to secure sufficient funding.

However, the council was successful in gaining an £81,200 grant from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust to fund the new facilities.

Further funding was received from Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Council, The Local Members Initiative Scheme and completed by the parish council.

Kick Off for Promise is on April 21 and starts with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the ground at 12.30pm and members of the public are invited to attend.

For details about using the facilities call parish clerk Lynn McClymont on 01785 607868.