PlayZone plan a 'win-win' for community - trustees

The proposed PlayZone pitch would be floodlit to enable evening use

A new all-weather sports pitch planned for a North Yorkshire leisure centre would be a "win-win" for the local community, trustees say.

Colburn Community Sports Centre near Catterick Garrison has applied to North Yorkshire Council for a multi-use games area (MUGA) at the site off Catterick Road.

Plans say an existing MUGA would be upgraded with a synthetic 3G playing surface around 100ft (30m) by 65ft (20m), surrounded by perimeter fencing and floodlights.

No date has been set yet for council planners to assess the application.

The scheme is part of the Football Foundation's PlayZone programme aimed at tackling inequalities in physical activity and improving access to facilities by funding community spaces.

Angie Dale said the existing pitch at Colburn Community Sports Centre had "run into disrepair"

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service a report on behalf of the applicants said providing a PlayZone would improve accessibility to organised sport within the community, "by providing an outdoor space that will be usable year-round".

It said the proposed development would create a "state-of-the-art facility", which would encourage the wider community to become "more engaged in health and wellbeing activities".

Angie Dale, chair of the trustees at Colburn Community Sports Centre, said a consultation exercise had found "considerable support" for the plans.

She said: "It's replacing an existing MUGA which has run into disrepair, with a phenomenal new facility.

"This is a win-win for the local community."

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