WORK on a new outdoor multi-use games area, green gym and youth shelter in Whalley is set to begin next month.

Project bosses have recently secured offers of funding to complete the scheme at the Queen Elizabeth II Playing Fields in the village.

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Construction work is scheduled to start at the end of the local football season next month with the grand reopening pencilled in for August in time for the new season.

The Queen Elizabeth II Playing Fields Charitable Trust, which is leading the project, has received £30,000 from the Lancashire Environment Fund, £28,000 from Whalley Parish Council and £3,000 from The Harris Charity in Preston.

The planning application for the Mitton Road site, the first of its kind in the village, was originally sent to Ribble Valley Council in April 2013 by project leader John Smith and was given the green light in November last year.

The installations are aimed at young people between 18 and 25 years old, and will be located on an unused area of the playing fields. The council earmarked a £10,000 grant to go towards the project, £3,500 of which has already been spent.

Councillors are due to vote next week on whether to give the trust until August 31 to finalise the project and claim the remaining £6,500.

The work will see a section of the playing fields being drained to create a football pitch.

Cllr Terry Hill, who represents the village on the borough council, said: “It’s great news that the construction work is set to start next month because it will make a big difference in the village. The people behind the scheme have put in an enormous amount of work to get this all together, particularly John Smith. These new facilities will make a great addition to the village.”

Mr Smith, who is also on Whalley Parish Council, said: “It’s amazing that we have got to this stage because up to the point that work actually begins it’s all talk.

“The multi-use games area and the green gym will not be finished in August because we can’t afford to complete the work but the games area will be playable at least.

“This is the first stage of a much larger project which will be completed as and when we get permission and the funds.”

The parish council, along with the Whalley Sports Club and the charitable trust, are currently drawing up plans for a £1 million sports hall for the village and a planning application is expected to be submitted later this year.