10:30am Monday 8th February 2010
By Liza-Jane Gillespie
ALVESTON looks set to benefit from a new £660,000 sports facility to be built in the village.
Marlwood School has submitted plans for a brand new all weather pitch and ancillary cricket and athletics facilities.
The pitch will be full sized, with the capability of being divided into three separate five-a-side pitches.
The main purpose of the development, which will be located on a site behind the school building, is improve the school’s sports facilities for pupils.
However, the new sports ground will also be floodlit so it can be used at night by local community groups and sports clubs.
Keith Geary, head teacher, said: "The all weather pitch is an exciting and eagerly anticipated development and will improve the learning opportunities for our students. In addition it will be a valuable asset for use by the local community.
"An initial small project team has been established to scope out the project and hold preliminary discussions focussing on available pitch surface, sizes, types of fencing, anticipated lighting requirements, maintenance regimes and of course our envisaged use of the new facility.
"We are delighted that this new facility is shortly to become a reality. Our students, and the wider community, will benefit massively."
Last November the school carried out a consultation of 200 local residents and held an open evening for people to discuss the plans.
The project, which will cost £660,000, will be paid for by South Gloucestershire Council’s capital programme.
The school hopes the planning application will be approved quickly by South Gloucestershire Council so building work can start in the spring. It is hoped the sports development will be ready for use by September.
Members of the public wanting to comment on the application have until Wednesday, February 17.
To see the application in full visit www.southglos.gov.uk
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