IPSWICH-BASED developers Jackson Building Services have begun work on a £2million project to upgrade a sports centre at Witham.The work at Spinks Lane sports centre is for Braintree District Council and has been boosted by a record £1million cash donation from the Football Foundation, a charity which encourages grass-roots support for the sport.

IPSWICH-BASED developers Jackson Building Services have begun work on a £2million project to upgrade a sports centre at Witham.

The work at Spinks Lane sports centre is for Braintree District Council and has been boosted by a record £1million cash donation from the Football Foundation, a charity which encourages grass-roots support for the sport. The other £1million is coming from Braintree District Council.

Jackson's will build a full-sized, multi-purpose pitch which will be floodlit with all-weather artificial turf. The site will be used both by the community and neighbouring John Bramston School.

The firm will also be building a single-storey steel and brick pavilion to replace an existing changing block. It will have 12 changing rooms, disabled facilities, match officials' rooms and a meeting and teaching room. A car park and hard and soft landscaping are also part of the development project.

The work has been carefully phased to allow the new pitch to be used by January 2007, ahead of the completion date in May.

“It's a little over a month since the Football Foundation grant was announced, and this rapid start of the project shows everyone's commitment to providing excellent facilities for the enjoyment and health of people in Witham, Braintree and the whole district,” said Councillor Michael Lager.

Michael Manning, construction director for Jackson's said they were looking forward to providing greatly improved facilities at Witham.

“Support for the scheme has been overwhelming and thank to the highest possible financial award from the Football Foundation, we are delighted that the area will get the high quality sporting facilities it deserves,” he said.