Last chance to have say on sports complex plans

Residents have one final golden opportunity to view plans for a new state-of-the-art community sports complex at Edge Hill University's Ormskirk campus.

The University will be submitting a planning application to West Lancashire Borough Council at the end of May but wanted to give the local community one last chance to comment on the designs.

With this in mind, a second special public exhibition is being held in Ormskirk town centre on the 14^th and 15^th May, between 10am and 5pm at shop unit 18 in Church Street.

Experts will be on hand to explain the proposals and give members of the public the chance to speak to Edge Hill representatives and the design team about the plans.

Steve Igoe, the University's Pro Chancellor for Resources, explained: "Historically, Edge Hill University has provided one of the best sports complexes for students and the community in the region. However, with an increasingly competitive Higher Education market place, the enhancement of the facilities is crucial. We need to update and relocate our current sports facilities to allow further academic growth and redevelopment to continue.

"We initially unveiled the plans in January and we have had a lot of positive comments from the local community and interested stakeholders. Now we are at the stage where we are ready to submit the plans to the local authority for consideration but felt that it would be appropriate to give residents one more chance to see our innovative plans. I'd encourage people to come along to the public exhibition to see what our vision is and tell us what they think of the proposals. Your views are very important to us."

The need for further expansion of the University's facilities was identified in 2005 by the Government Planning Inspector appointed to conduct the West Lancashire Replacement Local Plan public inquiry. To allow further academic growth, and the expansion of these valuable community facilities, the University is proposing the creation of a purpose-built modern sports complex on land to the east of the present campus. The new development will be served by a new access road and junction formed onto the A570 St Helens Road, together with new cycle lane and pedestrian routes, and a bus-drop off point.

The proposed outdoor facilities will include running tracks, rugby, hockey and football pitches, athletics field, netball and tennis courts and a trim trail with exercise stations. A single storey building will accommodate an eight-court sports hall with viewing gallery for basketball, netball, badminton, five-a-side football and general sports use, a 25-metre swimming pool, a 100-station fitness suite, aerobics studio, health suite with sauna and steam rooms, a café and lounge area.

New ecological features and wildlife habitats will be created, including mixed-woodland areas and footpaths linking to Ruff Wood, wildflower meadows, open grassland and a new wildlife pond, and structural screen planting and hedgerow replacement. The whole development will incorporate sustainable drainage and low carbon design and building technologies.