Thornes Park Athletics Stadium in Wakefield due to partially re-open in February after huge fire

The partial reopening of Wakefield's Thornes Park Stadium is now just weeks away.
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The popular athletics venue was hit by a suspected arson attack at the start of 2020, which led to three boys being questioned by police.

Parts of the stadium building were left irreparable by the damage, but Wakefield Council says it will be safe to allow public access to other bits of the venue from February.

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In October, the local authority set aside cash to build a brand new facility at the park in the long-term after conceding that the structure was showing its age even before the blaze.

The venue was hit by a huge fire last February.The venue was hit by a huge fire last February.
The venue was hit by a huge fire last February.

In a report going before a full council meeting next week, Jacquie Speight, the authority's Cabinet member for leisure, said: "The clean-up at Thornes Park Athletics Stadium (following the fire damage in February) is progressing well and it is hoped the reduced spaces will be opened to the public in February 2021.

"Whilst it is not possible to repair some areas of the building, there will be sufficient space to co-ordinate access for gym users in a temporary formed ground floor space, a programme of exercise classes for adults, some children’s courses and some planned bowls use."

Coun Speight also said that the new £21m leisure centre at Pontefract Park, christened Aspire@ThePark, remains on track to open in the spring of 2021.

The facility was originally due to open in the autumn of this year, but work was thrown off after a major flood hit the site before Christmas 2019.

Local Democracy Reporting Service