BRUNSWICK PAVILION TO BE REPLACED

10.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 16th May 2009

Rundown Brunswick cricket pavilion will get a new lease of life as it is being transformed into Newcastle's latest Children's Centre.

The council's executive has approved plans to demolish the crumbling Pavilion at Brunswick Recreation Ground and replace it with new modern changing rooms as part of a new Sure Start Children's Centre.

Existing changing rooms on the site will be replaced with new facilities which meet the current Sport England standards, while the construction of the building could also mean work for 70 to 80 local workers.

Castle Ward Councillor Anita Lower says: "The Brunswick Pavilion has served the community very well for a long time, but it is in a very poor state of repair and has now reached the end of its life.

"This project is a real partnership and will lead to a real partnership of services, for family, sporting groups and the wider community available under one roof."

Children's Centres are local one stop for parents and carers, bringing together a wide range of services for children under 5 and their families, with every community in Newcastle having access to a centre by 2010.

The overall cost of the centre is expected to be £880,000, which will be made up of a £330,000 grant from Sure Start, a corporate capital grant of £210,000 from the council.

Discussions are on going for contributions from other sources including Your Homes Newcastle and the local parish council.

Work is expected to start on site in June 2009.