VISIBLE progress is being made on the long-awaited sports complex development at Ruskin Drive.

The £2.5million project will see facilities at the Dentons Green venue transformed with whole sale improvements.

These include upgrading the existing artificial football pitch to an FA-accredited full-sized floodlit pitch, which will see St Helens Town make a return to the borough.

There will also be a new artificial turf full-sized floodlit rugby pitch to RFL and RFU standard.

Pilkington Recs, the amateur rugby league club, will continue to be tenants at the site and benefit from the new facilities. It is understood a significant amount of funding for the development came from a compensatory agreement with developers who sold the club’s former home at City Road for housing.

The redevelopment has led to disgruntlement among some residents nearby over potential problems with parking and felling of trees.

Other facilities include six new changing rooms, six all-weather tennis courts, of which three will be floodlit, a drainage system on the cricket outfield, improvements to the bowling pavilions and a new 300-space car park will be created.

A spokesperson for St Helens Council said: “Work is now well underway at the Ruskin Drive sports complex – supported by Sport England Lottery, Lawn Tennis Association and the Football Foundation grant funding – which, once complete, will be a marvellous facility for the borough.

"The first phase saw the removal of the poor quality trees along the Swinburne Road boundary of the site which have now been replaced with better quality trees and shrubs planted by the council’s Grounds Maintenance team.

"The 170 tonnes of felled trees were recycled in partnership with Stobarts Ltd who will re-use the chippings to manufacture boarding.

"Since then, the foundations have been laid to replace existing facilities with an upgraded 3G floodlit artificial pitch for rugby, and all-weather tennis courts."

The next stage, which is already underway, has seen the squash courts demolished, followed by work on the new 3G football pitch.

"The construction work – which also includes improvements to bowls, cricket and rounders facilities, as well as six additional changing rooms and a significant increase to the amount of on-site parking – is expected to be completed later this year.”

Council leader Barrie Grunewald said: “This marvellous facility will be a huge boost for sport and the development of St Helens which will enable even more people to become active.

“The council is committed to improving people’s lives, creating better places, and delivering effectively together. Ruskin Drive will be a symbol of that commitment.”