Caborn opens new Media centre at Durham

Durham CCC Chairman Clive Leach CBE and Margaret Fay OBE (Chairman One NorthEast)

Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport opened the new £1.7 million Media and Education Centre at the Riverside ground, Durham, during the interval of The NatWest Series ODI between England and Australia on Thursday June 23.

The completion of the media and education centre is another step in the ongoing development of the Riverside as the stadium celebrates its tenth anniversary.

The centre is a three story construction with a classroom planned for the ground floor, TV / radio and match command facilities on the first floor, main press room on the second floor and camera positions on the roof.

The centre was at full capacity for Australia's visit, but outside of international cricket the centre is to be developed as a learning centre for the benefit of the community, building on the successful partnerships Durham has with local schools and colleges.

The construction of the centre, by locally based company Tolent Construction, was made possible by the support of One NorthEast, through the County Durham Economic Partnership, Durham County Council and Sport England.

Durham and its partners are committed to developing Riverside as a world class sporting, cultural and business venue for the benefit of the local community and North East England as a whole.

Caborn, the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central was joined by Durham CCC Chairman Clive Leach CBE, Margaret Fay OBE (Chairman One NorthEast), Bob Ward and Linda Edworthy (representing County Durham Economic Partnership), Councillor Ken Manton (Leader Durham County Council) and Tim Cantle-Jones (Chairman North East Sports Board - Sport England) for the opening of the centre.

Margaret Fay added: "This is an amazing new facility that we are thrilled to have been able to support that will not only benefit the immediate area but help put North East England at the forefront of sporting ventures and
related learning."