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On the leisure side, increased sports facilities were made available in the area with the new schools and the local authority creating sand pitches alongside those of Pleckgate School. Blackburn Northern Cricket Club extended its facilities to include squash and a large bubble was erected at the top end of the Borough football pitch, close to the club, for indoor tennis coaching in the winter months as the club already had outdoor tennis courts. In recent times, the club has ceased its cricket activities with the cricket field now used as an additional sports area by Pleckgate school. Additionally, Blackburn Hockey Club also use the club as a centre after using Pleckgate Schools “All Weather “ pitches before transferring to Witton Park. The Woodridge and St Mary’s Playing Fields have undergone numerous up-grades due to drainage and levelling issues although the siting of a new large sewer tank under the section of playing field near to Royal Oak Avenue created difficulties. The Woodridge Playing Field are fully used by schools and local league football teams at weekends. In 2018, the Borough Sports Pavilion sited close to Blackburn Northern was completely re-furnished as it had become very run down, using a grant of £100,000 from the Premier League and F.A. Football Facilities Fund helping to create an additional kitchen, office and maintenance store and refurbished changing rooms to serve the teams using the six pitches available nearby. Many local leagues now use the pitches including Blackburn Sunday League, Blackburn Combination and Blackburn Rovers ladies teams.
Today, both Lammack and Pleckgate areas have become very popular and vibrant areas offering a wide variety of modern houses, a wide range of leisure facilities and modern schools. As a result, the area is very popular for families especially with young children and has become a real asset to the Borough of Blackburn.
Sources
The author's own resources
Abram, W. A., 'A History of Blackburn Town & Parish'
Beattie, Derek, 'Blackburn: A History', Carnegie, 2007
Miller, G.C., 'Blackburn: Evolution of a Cotton Town'
Notes (and newscuttings) on Roe Lee, Lammack and Pleckgate, Blackburn Library, shelved at E02
Rothwell, Mike, 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Blackburn, Part One: the Textile Industry', Hyndburn Local History Society, 1985
Rothwell, Mike, 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Blackburn, Part Two: Other Industries', Hyndburn Local History Society, 1986
Timmins, Geoff, 'Handloom Weaver's Cottages in Central Lancashire', University of Lancaster, 1977
The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster, Volume 6