Warrington's £30m Orford Park Project is well on schedule and set to open early in 2012 despite the bad weather before Christmas, providing a lasting Olympic legacy for the town.

Delighted local councillor, "Orford Champion" Mike Hannon says the facility will provide a major boost to the town and an area of social deprivation. Despite the bad weather and the difficult economy the project is moving ahead according to plan," he said.

Cllr Hannon said it was hoped to announce a major new retail partner in the near future and because local consultation had been maximised he was anticapting that the whole community would buy into the project.
"Despite the huge building project which has obviously caused some disruption in the neighbourhood, there have been very few complaints."

Fifty acres of land are being transformed into a valuable community asset providing a wide variety of leisure, health and education facilities on one site. There will be football pitches, library, health centre and numerous other facilities.

The village is designed to promoting healthy lifestyles and independence, increase the number of people participating in physical activity and improve lifelong learning, the local skill base and employability of local people.

The sports village will not only provide a focal point for the local community and boost local pride and identity, it will also represent a London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games legacy for the North West.

Partners in the scheme include Sport England, the Football Foundation, Warrington Town FC, NHS Warrington, William Beamont High School and Warrington Collegiate.

For more news on the Orford Park Project, you can visit the website here http://orfordpark.warrington.gov.uk/

With thanks to Gary for the above news story.

Photos show how the project's football pitches will look (above) while local councillor, Mike Hannon (below) takes a look at the progress being made.