A school in South Ribble is extending its leisure facilities for the local community with a brand new development supported by the local authority.

Lostock Hall Academy will be bringing an old and deteriorated tarmac area back to life. Two phases of work will see if become a focal point for sporting activities in the area.

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Pupils will benefit from the provision as part of the curriculum with sports clubs and activities for the community throughout the year too.

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Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said: “We’ve got a commitment to providing leisure opportunities in the community and working with schools and other organisations that have space and facilities is an important way of us developing this.

“We are really excited by the plans put forward by Lostock Hall Academy and we will look to help the school with the financing so we provide more opportunities for the pupils to get active and it will become a good base for sports clubs and holiday activities.

“We’ve seen a huge demand for activities during the pandemic and we look forward to seeing this come to fruition.”

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The proposals would see a large multi-use games (MUGA) area split in two with one half being resurfaced hardcourt to make it suitable for league netball, tennis, basketball and other school activities. And the other half being surfaced with a new artificial GEN2 multi use games area suitable for hockey and recreational football.

There will also be a 113m 6 lane sprint track at the rear of the MUGA and a long lump pit to the side to provide all year-round athletics facilities.

There would then be a future phase to look at developing a full-sized 3G pitch at the school for football and training for other sports.

Mrs Gaynor Gorman, Principal of Lostock Hall Academy, said: “The upgrade to our sport and leisure facilities at the academy has been part of our strategic plan for a number of years.

“The partnership with and financial input from South Ribble Borough Council will enable us to bring these facilities to our students and wider community sooner than expected. This comes at such a critical time as we return to life post pandemic.

“The last two years have been very difficult for our students and community and this facility will provide a boost to ensuring that every person in the Lostock Hall Academy community has access to, and benefits from, physical activity.    

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“This project follows other recent investments at the academy to refurbish the school’s ICT department, install new boilers throughout, as well as necessary works to electrics and roofs. All these works continue to ensure Lostock Hall Academy is a welcoming place for our community to feel a part of.

“We are delighted to be working with South Ribble Borough Council and feel we have a shared vision to support sport and leisure within the community.”

The council is proposing to support the project with a mix of funding including a loan, grant and s106 money from development sites taking place in the area.

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