THE construction of a new synthetic turf football pitch is a step closer after Winchester City Council's Cabinet agreed to put £130,000 towards the project.

Last year Henry Beaufort School, in Harestock, gained planning permission from Hampshire County Council to build a 100m x 51m synthetic turf pitch with floodlighting on the north east side of its East Woodhay Road site.

The scheme is set to cost around £500,000 and will not only benefit the school but the wider community.

The school has contributed land and a cash allocation of £145,000 and Henry Beaufort staff are also finalising bids to both the Football Foundation and the SITA Trust (the landfill tax credit scheme) Enhancing Communities Programme.

Littleton and Harestock Parish Council has pledged £10,000 to the project.

At the Cabinet meeting today (June 4) Gini Ainley, the community and business manager for Henry Beaufort School, said: "Our vision is to create a community centre of excellence for youth football for all. In addition the facility will be available for use to the community for other sports such as hockey, rugby and rounders.

"There are limited outdoor floodlit training facilities in the Winchester area and none in the northern area of the city or adjacent wards. Of those available, all are full to capacity.

"The provision of quality facilities, activities and experiences for all ages is the core of the Henry Beaufort community mission. This is a vitally needed facility for the Winchester community and we ask for your support in funding for the project."

During her presentation, Mrs Ainley, added that the school's community team will organise after school clubs and holiday courses targeting children of different ages and ability levels, as well as providing training facility for adults and somewhere for local voluntary youth organisations to use to provide social inclusion activities.

Cllr Jacey Jackson, who represents Littleton and Harestock, said: "Since the inception of this project, we have seen at close quarters how the team at Henry Beaufort has worked hard to bring it to this stage. I would like to emphasise the importance of this facility, not only for Henry Beaufort and the residents of Littleton and Harestock, but for the people of Winchester as a whole."

Cllr Eileen Berry, who represents Weeke, added: "This project is so important. We desperately need something for the youth in Weeke and it is available now. This is something that they want."

The item will come before a full meeting of Winchester City Council on Wednesday, June 25 to be rubber stamped.