First sod cut at Heywood Sports, Culture and Leisure Village

Councillor Susan Emmott, Bobby Cross, Keri-Anne Payne, Susan Coates, Craig McAteer and Margaret Schofield cut the first sod at the Heywood Sports, Culture and Leisure Village.

More than 50 people attended the official sod-cutting ceremony at the site of Heywood's new sports, culture and leisure village on Monday (28 September).

Keri-Anne Payne, the Middleton swimmer who was a Gold medallist at the recent world championships in Rome and Silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics, cut the first sod alongside Bobby Cross, captain of Heywood Cricket Team and Margaret Schofield, long serving member of Heywood Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Councillor Susan Emmott said: “We hope that this will inspire a new generation of people, like our guests, to participate in sporting and leisure activities.

“Heywood Township, the Council, Link4Life, New Heart for Heywood and Impact, together with our funding partners The Football Foundation and Sport England, and the contractors, Kier North West, have all worked together to provide this facility for the people of Heywood."

Susan Coates, Chairman of the Heywood New Deal for Communities, said: “The facilities to be provided in the Sports, Culture and Leisure Village reflect what people have told us they want to see here.

“In addition to the sports hall and swimming pool, we will have a fitness suite, dance studio, community and training rooms, as well as dedicated youth space, including a youth gym. Outside the building, the pitches are being drained and re-laid, to provide full size, junior and mini pitches, and we will have an additional artificial turf pitch as well."

Craig McAteer, Managing Director of Link4Life, said: “In my long experience working in sport, culture and leisure, this has been the best example of partnership working I have seen.

“Link4Life will be proud to operate this fantastic facility when it opens, and help to meet the needs of Heywood people.”