Makeover for athletics arena

PLANS for state of the art facilities at Victoria Park Athletics Arena in Warrington have burst out of the blocks.
The council’s parks and woodlands team has started work at the arena, which is the training ground and competitive base for the Warrington Athletics Club, and will provide a modern athletics and sporting facility for Warrington.
This will involve replacing the existing track surface which was originally laid with cinders prior to upgrading to a rubber surface in the 1980’s.
The new polymeric rubber track will be blue and there will be a dual use rugby league / football pitch in the centre featuring a new sports pitch drainage system.
The hammer/discus cage is being relocated within the central area and the pole vault is to be moved adjacent to the long jump on the outside of the running track. The eight-lane synthetic track will accommodate competitions from junior to senior elite level, including disability athletics.
The facilities are set to cross the finish line in August 2013.
Cllr Kate Hannon, executive board member for leisure, community and culture, said: “This is a great project and both the athletics club and many other local people will benefit from these facilities and will hopefully encourage people to take part in these sports or perhaps try them for the first time.”