THE athletics track at a sports complex is to be refurbished under council plans – otherwise the track could close in the next few years.

Council leaders are to be asked to approve plans to refurbish, develop and invest £1.6m in the outdoor facilities at the Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington.

A report says the improvements are needed “to ensure that the council continues to provide an appropriate competition standard athletics facility in the town”.

The complex, which opened in 1999 and has about 170,000 visits a year, is Darlington Borough Council’s main outdoor sporting hub.

It is the home of the Darlington School Games and helps run numerous events, festivals and activities for Darlington’s 28 primary and seven secondary schools.

The floodlit athletics track is used by running, athletics, cycling and triathlon clubs and school festivals, with 30,000 visits in a year.

A report says the track is in need of replacement “to secure excellent facilities for existing and new clubs to be based in Darlington and avoid having to close the facility in the near future”.

The council report states: “The athletics track is now at the end of its life cycle and has had various repairs carried out over recent years.

“But it is becoming uneconomical to continue with temporary repairs and without refurbishment will have to close on safety grounds in the next few years.”

The complex contains an artificial grass pitch, refurbished in 2017 and hosting 40 adult and junior community teams from clubs like Middleton Rangers, Darlington Town and Darlington Youth, as well as nine grass pitches, attracting 98,000 visits a year.

The Football Foundation has offered up to £700,000 towards another artificial grass pitch (AGP) at Eastbourne, the report states. “There is strong evidence of the demand for an additional AGP in Darlington,” it adds.

Traffic is also considered as it spills into the surrounding estate when the site is full. Alternative and overflow parking areas are suggested.

“It is considered that a proposed new AGP at the site can be introduced without compromising road safety or satisfactory operations,” says the report.

It says doing nothing would mean losing the track funding opportunity and “see a continued decline and financial pressure on the athletics track, with closure of this facility in the next few years with the loss of athletics clubs to the area”.

The report recommends approval of the full scheme – the athletics track refurb, the new artificial grass pitch and parking and traffic improvements – with £1.6m of council funding.

It will be considered at the council cabinet meeting next Tuesday.