New sports facility for Chorley opened by Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP

23 August 2021

West Way Sports Hub in Chorley has been officially opened by Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons.

The new £2.7 million complex in Astley Village, owned by Chorley Council was made possible thanks to a £647,595 from the Premier League, The FA and Government's Football Foundation and will provide first class sports facilities to the local community.

At an event on Saturday 21 August 2021, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, officially opened the new facility.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP said: "It is wonderful to see the new West Way Sports Hub opened as this will provide outstanding sporting facilities for local people.  With new changing facilities, a 3G pitch and improved grass pitches I am sure that local sports clubs and participants will take full advantage of the West Way sports hub.  I have always championed the need for better sporting facilities and I would like to congratulate Chorley Council for placing significant investment in the Sports Hub in addition to attracting funding from its partners, such as the FA and Sports England, to ensure that we have modern facilities which can cater for a wide range of local sporting groups."

Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader of Chorley Council said "We have worked closely with funding partners over the last couple of years to bring our ambitious plans for this facility to life. Sport is so beneficial for both physical and mental health, so having these first-class facilities here in Chorley for all ages to use is really important."

Guests were able to watch children from some of the facility's partner clubs be the first to play football on the new pitch, and view the new facilities, which include new pavilion (and changing facilities), 3G football pitch and significant improvements to existing pitches.

Lee Boyer, Head of Facilities and Investment, Lancashire FA said "On behalf of the Lancashire FA we are delighted, to have this new hub in place, making an enormous, positive impact on the football community throughout Chorley, be it traditional club players or those looking for more recreational and educational opportunities. It will also contribute not only to the aspirations, as recognised in our work with partners across the borough, to identify football facility improvement, via Chorley's Local Football Facilities Plan, but our ongoing determination throughout the county, to see significantly enhanced and high quality facilities established, where people of all ages and abilities can engage in football.

This continued partnership with our local football family, Chorley Council and the Football Foundation will no doubt see the Westway Sports Hub, provide a greatly needed platform to sustain and grow the sport.".

The facility is also home to a compact athletics track (which includes sprint lanes, a long jump pit, storage containers and additional floodlighting) funded by Chorley Council and was used at the opening event by Chorley Athletics & Triathlon Club.

Partner clubs include: Euxton Girls FC, Brinscall Village Juniors FC, Gillibrand Warriors FC, Chorley Wanderers FC, Astley & Buckshaw JFC and Chorley Athletics & Triathlon Club

Attendees at the event also included; Councillor Peter Wilson - Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, Mayor of Chorley - Councillor Steve Holgate, Executive Members of Chorley Council - Councillor Alistair Morwood and Councillor Adrian Lowe, Gary Hall - Chief Executive of Chorley Council, Lee Boyer - Head of Facilities and Investment & Nick Birchall - Football Development Officer, Lancashire FA, representatives from partner clubs and Astley Village Parish Councillors.

Planning consent for the development was granted in late 2019 with a separate application being granted at a later date for a council funded compact athletics track. Work started at the site located between Westway and Chancery Road in Astley Village in July 2020.

As part of a phased opening the facility is being prepared to welcome the partner football club for training sessions and match play from the 4 September. Further staff are being recruited to allow the site to open to the wider public in October/November. Those wishing to make a booking enquiry can email: westwayhub@chorley.gov.uk

Future plans for West Way Sports Hub include new footpaths around the grass pitches and a new playground to be built adjacent to the pavilion to be supported by the Astley Village Parish Council.

Find out more at westwaysportshub.co.uk

PHOTO: Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP officially opening West Way Sports Hub, with Mayor of Chorley, Councillor Steve Holgate and players from partner clubs