FIVE-a-side football pitches in Barrow will be in use for the start of the school summer holidays.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it was ‘on track’ to open the pitches, formerly operated by Pulse on Greengate Street, by the start of the school summer holidays.

The school summer term ends on Friday July 19.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The council is meeting with clubs and groups that have previously used the 3G pitch facilities to update them on progress, understand their future requirements and to set out the process for booking pitches.

“We are on track to re-open the pitches for the start of the school summer holidays.

“Works have already been carried out to repair the pitch and wider works to repair the netting and the boards are under way, along with internal improvements to the building.’’

Westmorland and Furness Council took over management of the pitches alongside Barrow Park Leisure Centre in January after terminating the contract with the previous operator.

MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell said: “The pitch repairs are now done, and work is now being undertaken on the nets and boards.”

Contractors started work to carry out the necessary repairs to all the 3G pitches in March.

The previous operator Pulse said it had shut its football pitches due to ‘health and safety concerns’ in November.

A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said in December: “Many sports clubs and groups use the pitches and the council recognises the concern and anxiety that has been caused by the closure of the facilities.

“We will be taking over management of the facilities from January and we are keen to reach out to anyone who has been using the pitches and to those clubs and groups with regular bookings to contact us.

“The council was made aware last month that a decision had been taken by the operator to close the 3G pitches at its Barrow facility.

“The council owns the facility but was not involved in the decision to close. Following discussions with the contractor, it has now been agreed to terminate the current contract.

“The council is now arranging for a full independent assessment of the condition of the pitches.”