Bright future for former school sites

Edge End High School and Mansfield High School have now merged together as Marsden Heights Community College.

Since 19th April 2010, pupils from both schools have attended the new state-of-the-art college in Edge End Lane, Brierfield, built through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Work has already begun at the former site of Edge End Secondary School in Nelson to make way for brand new sports facilities.

The Mansfield school buildings are also currently being demolished, and Lancashire County Council is holding talks with Pendle Council planners about how they can best market the site.

John Ferris, Building Schools for the Future Project Manager, said:
"Officers at Lancashire County Council have been working closely with counterparts at Pendle Council on the proposals for both school sites.

"The site of the former Mansfield tennis courts and car park has already been transferred to Pendle Council and are being developed as a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) for community use.

"Pendle Council received £30,000 from Lancashire County Council as part of a land swap deal to use to develop this area.

"The new facilities at Edge End are being jointly provided by Pendle Council and Lancashire County Council, and will provide facilities to replace those lost at the Benthead playing fields in Brierfield.

"This land was exchanged to the County Council in 2007 to allow the new Marsden Heights Community College to be built."

On their way at the former Edge End High School are:

• 2 senior sized football pitches
• 1 junior sized football pitch
• A cricket square and pitch
• A purpose-built clubhouse with changing rooms and a community room, all  accessible to people with disabilities.
• Adequate car parking.

Councillor Naeem Ashraf, Pendle Council's Executive Member for Parks and Leisure, said:

"The agreements between ourselves and the County Council has really benefited the local community, something that was at the heart of the negotiations for both parties.

"Now we have a new, high quality school building in Marsden Heights through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

"Plus, once work on the Edge End and Mansfield sites are complete, Pendle residents will gain brand new, first rate sports and games facilities."

Work to regrade the existing playing fields at Edge End, and provide appropriate drainage to provide replacement facilities for those lost at the Benthead site, will start in spring 2011.

Colin Patten, Parks & Recreation Services Manager, added:

"Although work on the new pitches at Edge End will be finished by the autumn of 2011, they won't be ready for teams to play their matches on until the start of the 2012/13 football season.

"In the meantime, we're working with any football teams affected by this and are doing our best to accommodate their matches on other Council managed pitches."

It is hoped that the new clubhouse with changing facilities will also be ready for the start of the 2012/13 football season, although at this stage it is difficult to be too specific.

Meanwhile, the Council has already started tidying up the landscaped areas around the site of the former Mansfield tennis courts in Taylor Street. Once this work has been done, the grass around the site will be able to be maintained and kept looking good for neighbours.

Contractors are pricing up the works for the supply and installation of a Multi Use Games Area and Volleyball Court at this site, and these prices should be returned to the Council within the next couple of weeks.

If all goes to plan, these new facilities should be installed and available for use before the end of February 2011.

For more information about the new sports pitches and facilities at the former Edge End site and Mansfield tennis courts and car park, contact Kieron Roberts on (01282) 661587 or kieron.roberts@pendle.gov.uk