Quibell Park stadium in Scunthorpe on track for £2m upgrade

AN INVESTMENT of more than £2 million will be made to upgrade facilities at Scunthorpe's Quibell Park stadium, the Telegraph can reveal.

North Lincolnshire Council is to make the cash available in its budget for the next financial year.

A consultation is being launched today to find out what clubs and individuals believe the money should be spent on at the council-run stadium.

Initial plans revealed by the authority include a new £450,000 clubhouse, with clubroom, kitchen, two changing rooms and toilets. This would replace facilities which were damaged in a fire in November.

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The council is also proposing to improve the athletics track and field facilities at the Brumby Wood Lane venue.

The scheme could see clubs take over the management of the stadium.

This would enable the clubs to access additional grant funding schemes.

In addition, the artificial grass pitch there could be relocated, although whether this happens or not, the facility will remain.

Councillor Liz Redfern, the leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This will represent a massive investment in sporting facilities for Scunthorpe.

"The Olympics and Paralympics stimulated a great deal of interest locally and we want to ensure the best facilities are available for our residents and clubs.

"We are going to be making available £2.12 million from the council's capital priorities pot.

"We would now like your views and ideas for improving the facilities."

The money will be included in the council's budget for the 2013-14 financial year, to be unveiled on Tuesday, February 19. The council will retain ownership of the stadium under the plans.

Among the clubs which use the stadium is Scunthorpe and District Athletics Club.

Chairman Dave Harmes said improvements were desperately needed. He said: "It needs refurbishing completely.

"We looked at it about two-and-a-half years ago and just to re-lay the track would have cost £100,000.

"It needs doing and the toilet and changing facilities need an upgrade because we can host four to five events there each season.

"An indoor training facility would be good for the winter, not just for us but the cyclists as well."

Other groups to use Quibell Park include the Lincsquad quadrathlon club and Scunthorpe Polytechnic Cycling Club.

In its consultation document, the council says the artificial grass pitch currently at the stadium is "coming to the end of its life".

To take part in the scheme, visit www.northlincs.gov.uk