[W]ork will soon get underway on reinstatement work at Carlisle’s Sheepmount athletics stadium and track.
The Carlisle City Council sports facility, including the buildings, track and turf, were all submerged in several feet of flood water and were extensively damaged by Storm Desmond in December 2015.
A limited clean up and repair was undertaken in early 2016 and it has been open and available for local clubs use since June last year.
Carlisle City Council spokesperson said: “Agreeing an insurance settlement and reinstatement specification for a full repair has been a difficult and time consuming process but we have resolved these issues and we have a contractor ready to start works. We have delayed the start at the request of clubs and athletes who are currently making use of the facilities. As most athletes do not have anywhere else to train, this has minimised disruption to the start of their season.
“We recognise that the necessary works will cut short this season, however the reinstatement of the track is a weather sensitive job that it best undertaken during the summer months.”
Contractors will start on site on Tuesday 18 July. The first job the contractor will undertake, following site set up, is reinstatement of the track.
The works are scheduled to last until early in 2018.
A new temporary athletics facility is available at Caldew School during the flood recovery works. The facility was installed last year following a successful £25,000 grant application by Carlisle City Council and Caldew School to National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Flood Relief Fund.
The temporary football changing rooms will be retained during the construction period and it is hoped that the football season will have minimum disruption.
