WORK to transform a York sports centre with an investment of £1.8 million has begun.

Oaklands Sports Centre, in Acomb, is expected to start a new life in June 2006.

The new facilities will stand alongside the existing sports hall and community room.

They will include a gym, a climbing zone, complete with a 13 metre wall, and a dance studio.

At the same time, a new synthetic pitch is on schedule to be completed in August in time for the new September sports season.

It will be used for games and sports such as hockey, football and tag rugby.

Indoors, an information and communication technology suite will act as a learning resource, and sports leaders hope it will help to improve performance for schools and the community.

In addition, the bar and social area will be improved and relocated downstairs, the changing rooms will be completely overhauled and extended, and the reception area refurbished.

Members of the Oaklands Partnership, which is made up of Oaklands School and City of York Council, will be operating the centre, and is keen to encourage junior sports activities.

The partnership also wants to encourage more disabled groups, and youth and women's groups to use the facilities.

The new climbing wall is seen as a replacement for the one lost when the Barbican closed down last year.

The Evening Press has reported that sports facilities lost at the Barbican have been relocated to different venues around the city, including Oaklands and All Saints' School.

Andy Laslett, acting head of facilities, sport and active leisure at City of York Council, said: "This development is really exciting. Already we are seeing improvements to the pitch, where there is now individual access to each pitch, higher fences between them and team dugouts.

"When finished, Oaklands Sports Centre will be a great leisure centre, not just for the local community but for the whole of York."

Existing pitch users are being contacted this week to take bookings for the new season but all are welcome and anyone else wishing to bring along a team to play at Oaklands should contact the centre on 01904 782841 as soon as possible.

Updated: 08:36 Thursday, July 21, 2005