A SYNTHETIC sports pitch at the Ryedale Sports Centre in Pickering is to be replaced using funding distributed by the district council.

Lady Lumley’s School and Ryedale District Council (RDC) jointly own the pitch, which was originally installed in 1998.

The pitch is used by the school during the day and managed by Everyone Active on behalf of the council during evenings and weekends. It is used for hockey, football and tennis, but now requires total replacement.

The new "sand dressed" pitch was selected to maintain a playing surface suitable for hockey fixtures.

Stuart Cleary, deputy headteacher at Lady Lumley’s School, said: “We have chosen to retain a surface suitable for hockey as there is no alternative hockey surface locally.

“Hockey is an integral part of the school’s games curriculum and we also have a number of school hockey teams - without this type of surface, hockey would be lost forever from the school curriculum.”

Lady Lumley’s School applied for a Section 106 Public Open Space and Recreation Grant funding to put towards the £195,000 replacement, the remaining amount coming from the joint owners ‘sinking fund’.

Cllr Steve Arnold, chairman of the Ryedale Grants Working Party, said “The Section 106 funding, released from housing developments in Ryedale, will be put to excellent use supporting the sports facility and development for use by the whole Ryedale community.

“The new pitch will enable local hockey clubs to continue to stay, play and grow locally by providing the requirements needed for hockey league matches,

while still being used for football and tennis.”

Sports pitch construction specialists CLS Sports secured the tender to install the new pitch and plan to be on site for approximately six weeks, starting this month. The existing carpet will be recycled by CLS Sports and will not go to landfill.

The next closing date for Ryedale District Council grants is Friday, May 14.

For more information, go to ryedale.gov.uk/living-here/community-living/community-grants