Leisure park set for £2m revamp under council plans

Two artificial football pitches and an artificial cricket wicket could be installed at a park as part of a £2m redevelopment.

The work at Redlands Leisure and Community Park, in Weymouth, has been partly funded by a £1.36m Football Foundation grant, with the site's owner Dorset Council investing a further £689,123.

Local charity Active Dorset, which focuses on promoting active lifestyles, runs the centre, with a 30-year lease from November 2022.

The redevelopment plans will be considered for final approval by Dorset Council's cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday.

Under the proposals, two full-size, third generation, LED-floodlit artificial football pitches - one replacing an existing pitch no longer fit for use - and an artificial cricket wicket would be installed.

A tarmac path for walking, cycling, jogging and scooting, and a 120-space overflow car park are also included in the plans.

The council said the investment aimed to "tackle health inequalities in Weymouth by creating high-quality spaces that encourage the community to be active and connected".

Martin Kimberley, from Active Dorset, said the charity wanted to encourage people in "all corners of the local community" to become more active.

"We hope that the changes we have made at Redlands in recent times, together with these significant additional improvements, will go some way to meeting those objectives," he said.

Planning permission for the project has already been approved by Dorset Council.

Ryan Hope, the authority's customer, culture and community engagement lead, said the project "highlights Dorset Council's commitment to supporting our communities".

He said the new facilities would "provide first-rate opportunities for local residents to be active, address health inequalities in Weymouth, and ensure Redlands continues to serve as a valued community space for generations to come".

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