STAFF at the city council have been warmly praised for their efforts in ensuring the £1.2m revamp of the King George V playing fields goes ahead.

Everyone working on the project has been publicly thanked by bosses for ensuring the costs have not spiralled out of control.

Guildhall leaders have also congratulated staff for their drive and determination in making sure it happens.

As we reported last year, the revamp will lead to a host of improvements to the long-neglected Brickfields plot.

It includes a new synthetic pitch, a community room and changing rooms, as well as new football pitches, new drains and a multi-use games area.

Work is due to start next month and will last a year after £730,000 funding was secured from the Football Foundation to make it viable.

Coun Francis Lankester, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "This is a big project for us and at the end of this project, it will be a wonderful facility.

"It shows how proactive the council has been in getting the Football Foundation grant and keeping it with section 106 money (grants from developers in return for a project getting approval) to make this happen.

"This is a major transformation we are undertaking despite being financially challenged - and the key element has been our officers and their drive to see it through.

"There is no point in having a dream when you can't keep to your budget either, and our officers have managed to do that."

The city council cabinet has now approved a £138,000 tender for the pitch improvements to mark the latest stage in the formalities.

Leader Coun Simon Geraghty said: "Not so long ago you'd go down to the site and find abandoned cars, which showed the neglect of it, and I'm glad we are finally tackling it."

The Guildhall is using section 106 money saved up in recent months to ensure it can afford the remaining £470,000 worth of funding.