£11m investment for school playing fields in Knowsley

School playing fields in Knowsley are set to benefit from an investment of almost £11 million.

Councillors have tonight (Wednesday, 18 July) agreed an extensive programme of improvements, which will see schools right across the borough enjoy investment in their outdoor spaces.

Over the coming years, £10.825 million will be used to significantly enhance the quality of the playing spaces for children and young people in Knowsley. It means pupils in the borough can enjoy fantastic sporting, leisure and other outdoor learning and development opportunities.

Phase one of the programme will see more than £4m spent on projects at 19 schools this financial year, with another 34 schools benefitting in the second phase.

Funding for the investment programme has been taken from the proceeds of the sale of former school playing fields across the borough, from schools which no longer exist, due to closure, merger or relocation. It is one of the investments which has been made possible because of the council’s Housing Land Disposal Programme, which will generate £21m over the next three years.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce such an extensive programme of improvements and enhancements to school playing fields in Knowsley.

“This is a significant investment of almost £11m which has only been made possible thanks to this council prioritising the sale of brownfield sites for housing development – and it’s fantastic that, despite tough financial times, we are still able to fund improvements like these which will make a huge difference to thousands of young people in the borough.”

Plans for the work were drawn up after the council carried out a thorough survey of all school playing provision in the borough. This found that, whilst all Knowsley schools had sufficient playing field provision, in some cases they were unable to use their fields all year round. Drainage improvements, new play equipment, new hard standing play areas, landscaping and new fencing works being provided by this investment demonstrate the council’s continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the borough’s children and young people all year round.

Cllr Margaret Harvey, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Our schools want to ensure that they are offering pupils the very best opportunities to get involved in sport, leisure and outdoor learning – and this investment will make sure that happens.

“It is so important for children’s health and wellbeing that they are able to get outdoors and enjoy sport or exercise, so I’m delighted to see so many schools will benefit from this money.”

Among the schools to benefit in the first phase will be Roby Park Primary in Huyton, which will receive a total investment of more than £900,000 for new play equipment and hard surfaced play areas with improved landscaping, a land drainage system and new security fencing.

At All Saints Centre for Learning in Kirkby, a total of £576,000 has been allocated to install an artificial grass pitch to allow year-round activity.

Schools included in Phase One works:

Holy Family RC Primary, Cronton

Holy Family RC Primary, Halewood

Huyton with Roby Primary, Huyton

Knowsley Lane Academy, Huyton

Roby Park Primary, Huyton

St Aloysius RC Primary, Huyton

St Columba’s Primary, Huyton

St Joseph’s RC Primary, Huyton

All Saints Centre for Learning, Kirkby

Kirkby CE Primary, Kirkby

Northwood Primary, Kirkby

St Laurence’s RC Primary, Kirkby

St Marie’s Primary, Kirkby

St Michael and All Angels RC Primary, Kirkby

Knowsley Village Primary, Knowsley Village

St John Fisher RC Primary, Knowsley Village

Evelyn Community Primary, Prescot

Our Lady’s RC Primary, Prescot

St Margaret Mary’s RC Junior, Huyton

Schools to be included in future phases

Blacklow Brow Primary, Huyton

Cronton C of E Primary, Cronton

Eastcroft Park Primary, Kirkby

Halewood CE Primary, Halewood

Halsnead Community Primary, Whiston

Malvern Primary, Huyton

Millbrook Community Primary, Kirkby

Mosscroft Primary, Huyton

Park Brow Community Primary, Kirkby

Park View Primary, Huyton

Plantation Primary, Halewood

Prescot Primary, Prescot

Ravenscroft Community Primary, Kirkby

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Primary, Kirkby

St Aidan’s Catholic Primary, Huyton

St Albert’s Catholic Primary, Stockbridge Village

St Andrew’s Catholic Primary, Halewood

St Anne’s Catholic Primary, Huyton

St Brigid’s Catholic Primary, Stockbridge Village

St Gabriel’s C of E Primary, Huyton

St Joseph The Worker Catholic Primary, Kirkby

St Leo’s & Southmead Catholic Primary, Whiston

St Luke’s Catholic Primary, Prescot

St Mark’s Catholic Primary, Halewood

St Mary & St Paul’s C of E Primary, Prescot

Sylvester Primary Academy, Huyton

Westvale Primary, Kirkby

Whiston Willis Primary, Whiston

Halewood Academy (off-site pitches), Halewood

Kirkby High School, Kirkby

Alt Bridge Secondary Support Centre, Huyton

Finch Woods Academy, Halewood

Knowsley Central Primary Support Centre, Huyton

Meadow Park School, Stockbridge Village