New games area 'will bring the community together'

The games area, behind Norton Community Resource Centre on Somerset Road, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It features line markings, built-in goals and hoops, and Thirteen Group have provided funding to install floodlights within the next few weeks.

On hand to open it was football fan and Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor Eileen Johnson.

"The new games area will bring the community together and encourage people to be active," she said.

"I would like to thank all parties involved in funding the project and look forward to seeing people put the games area to good use."

Councillor Steve Nelson, Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "People often say there should be more for young people to do and this facility will be a great addition to the community.

"The Council has chosen this location rather than the nearby Blue Hall Recreation Ground due to conditions of the funding and because the 'rec' is closed on an evening and the idea is that the MUGA is open all hours, all year round."

Michelle Hall, Neighbourhoods Service Manager at Thirteen, said: "Thirteen is keen to work in partnership with the Council to develop facilities and get people more active.

"The funding that we've provided will improve the building and the floodlights will encourage people to use the games area even during the darker evenings.

"We also want to encourage people to become more involved in their community and these improvements will hopefully help to do that."