KING George V Playing Fields in Haydock is the latest sporting facility to benefit from St Helens Council's commitment to revitalise sports venues.

In the past year the Council has secured more than £1million of grant aid to improve football and rugby pitches as part of its programme to upgrade facilities in line with the Winter Sports Pitch Strategy.

Drainage will be greatly improved at the Haydock King George V Playing Fields where the amount of drainage pipe being laid would stretch from Haydock to St Helens Rugby Club's ground at Knowsley Road. Once the work is completed, the facilities at Haydock will benefit 30,000 users each year. The upgraded pitches are expected to be ready for the Winter season 2004/05. Phase III of the drainage scheme at football pitches at Bishop Road is also underway.

Recent improvements across the Borough have included new changing rooms and an artificial turf pitch at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School. The work cost more than £700,000 and was jointly funded by the Council, the school and the new Opportunities Fund.

Changing rooms have been renovated at Parr Stock to the tune of £130,000 and £47,000 worth of improved drainage work at King Gorge V Playing Field pitches at Newton-le-Willows was funded by the Council and a grant from the landfill Tax Credit scheme.

Councillor Margaret McLachlan, the Council's Executive Member for Social and Cultural Developments said: "The Council is committed to providing high quality sports facilities to give all local people the chance to take part in sport. Our recent success in securing external grant aid has helped us implement the action plan within the Winter Sports Pitch Strategy more quickly than anticipated".

For further information about football and rugby pitch bookings for the forthcoming season please contact Outdoor Recreation Manager Jeff Barston on telephone number 01744 817967 or email JeffBarston@sthelens.gov.uk