New 3G football pitch opens at Poole's Rossmore Leisure Centre
It's cost £1.25 million to build, to be used by scores of local players
A new 3G football pitch has been officially opened at Poole's Rossmore Leisure Centre.
The paying surface, along with fencing, floodlights, a refurb for the changing rooms, cycle storage and CCTV has cost £1.25 million to create, for players across the BCP area.
£726,000 of the funding was covered by a grant from the Premier League, FA and the Government's Football Foundation.
BCP Council contributed just under £500,000 while the Talbot Village Trust put in £25,000.
The new facilities have replaced the previous grass pitch, which was prone to waterlogging, and often caused matches to be abandoned.
The pitch will be used by the community during evenings, weekends and school holidays, with St Aldhelm's Academy using it term time.
Cllr Millie Earl, Deputy Leader of BCP Council, and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities said:
“As part of our Playing Pitch Strategy we’re continually looking to improve and maintaining our facilities; enabling active, healthy lifestyles amongst our residents, whether they are young female footballers, or players for whom walking football better suits their abilities.
“This pitch at Rossmore is a brilliant addition to the local community, and anyone visiting the leisure centre, or walking nearby at Bourne Valley Park can hear how much everyone is enjoying it already. It’s great to visit again today and see what an impressive addition these facilities are to this area of Poole."
Dean Potter, Director of Grant Management at the Football Foundation, said:
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“We’re delighted that the local community in Poole will now be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new 3G pitch at Rossmore Leisure Centre.”