Bolton Council can now start work on a £474,000 plan for four new football pitches, changing rooms and toilets at Hulton Lane Playing Fields.

The plan, which was approved by the council's independent planning committee in March, comprises 2 adult pitches, one youth pitch and one junior pitch to meet new FA guidelines, changing rooms for players, toilets for both users and spectators and a car park.

The scheme is part of a £2m investment programme, in which the council is investing in local sports and recreational facilities across the borough. This is money which can only be invested into council-owned land and buildings and cannot be used on the day to day running of the council.

Hulton Lane has historically been home to several football pitches in the past, but these pitches have been out of regular use for some time, due to problems with drainage in the winter. As part of the investment, the council will be fully draining the site, meaning that the pitches should be suitable for use throughout the season.

The site will also be used for rounders in summer and a multi-use games area is also proposed with funding from the programme. Separately a new children's play area is also to be installed on the site, along with new footpaths for access, with funding coming from previous housing developments within the Hulton area.

Work will start in April. The council will also be investing over £600,000 across other playing fields, including drainage of pitches at Green Lane, Horwich; Leverhulme Park; Vicarage Rd, Blackrod and Westhoughton Central Park, as well as new changing rooms at Harper Green Playing Fields and Queens Park.

As part of the £2m investment programme, the council will also be investing over £300,000 in refurbishing tennis courts across the borough, over £200,000 on new and refurbishing multi-use games areas, approximately £150,000 on cycle trails and £60,000 on Bolton's first outdoor gym.

Councillor Nick Peel, Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Regulations, Housing, Neighbourhood and Community Services said: "Taking part in sports and recreational activities is really important as part of a healthy lifestyle. We are delighted that these new playing fields will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport. The further investment we will be making in draining other pitches, refurbishing tennis courts and creating cycle trails should mean that there is something to take part in for everyone across the borough."