NORTH Herts District Council (NHDC) is hoping footballers will get a kick out of a new sports pavilion. It has opened the pavilion at Gaunts Way playing fields on Letchworth GC s Grange estate. The new building serves four adult and two junior football pi

NORTH Herts District Council (NHDC) is hoping footballers will get a kick out of a new sports pavilion.

It has opened the pavilion at Gaunts Way playing fields on Letchworth GC's Grange estate.

The new building serves four adult and two junior football pitches. The eight modular changing rooms have changing and washing facilities and there are separate facilities for officials and toilets for spectators.

The new pavilion is multi-gender, fully accessible and available to all age groups and will act as a centre for the development of football in North Herts.

Costing nearly �500,000, the new pavilion was financed with grants of �209,000 from NHDC and �291,000 from the Football Foundation. The Hitchin Sunday Football League with advisers from the Hertfordshire Football Association helped to produce the design.

The formal opening was performed by North East Herts MP Oliver Heald who said: "I congratulate NHDC and the Football Foundation on providing this facility which will be greatly appreciated by local footballers."

Cllr Ian Knighton, NHDC's portfolio holder for leisure, said: "I am delighted that, thanks to the help of the Football Foundation and a lot of hard work from the Hitchin Sunday Football League, the wider footballing community and our own team, we have been able to provide a modern new Grange pavilion.

"It will sustain sporting activities and well-being for the people of North Herts as well as the local Grange community for many years ahead."

www.north-herts.gov.uk