Herringthorpe Stadium repair plans are a winner with local sporting community

The track and field venue is set for a £254,000 upgrade, the first for many years, to address essential repairs and prevent its closure.

The broken PA system, heating, floodlighting, poor surfacing for run-ups to javelin and long jump and uneven parts of the track due to subsidence are among problems that need correcting.

Steve Gaines, secretary of Rotherham Harriers Athletics Club, said: “News of this investment sends a strong, positive signal that the council appear to value Herringthorpe Stadium and are intending to keep it in the condition that it needs to be to be a long term asset. This has to be good news for the club, for the town and for the facility.”

The stadium pitch is also used by football teams and hosts ties in the Rotherham Charity Cup.

Some of the competition’s quarter-finals there in October came close to being called off because of the inadequate lighting. 

Charity Cup secretary Chris Eyre said: “It is encouraging that the council is committed to making improvements. We particularly noted fixing floodlighting was amongst those improvements and we, and others in the football family, will welcome a fully functioning set of lights.”

The budget proposals were approved by cabinet this week and will go before the full council next Wednesday.

Full story in this week’s Advertiser.