In the news .....
BASILDON ON THE BRINK OF SPORTING VILLAGE AFTER WINNING SPORT ENGLAND BACKING
| 10 July 2006 |
Sport England, the body charged with delivering the government’s objectives in sport, has thrown its backing behind Basildon Council’s plans for a Sporting Village.
|
The endorsement is a major boost for the council’s drive to build a multi-million pound sports complex and is seen as the clearest sign yet that the development could go ahead.
In an official statement, Sport England said it “strongly supports” the proposal for a Sporting Village at Gloucester Park, saying it would fit in with their plans for increasing participation in sport.
The statement, from Sport England’s senior planning officer, Roy Warren, said: “Sport England strongly supports the principle of the Sporting Village as it offers the potential to provide a first-class multi-sports complex of regional importance that will meet the needs of both the community and elite athletes.”
It went on to say the Sporting Village matches Sport England’s aspirations for “family orientated multi-sports environments that combine fitness and sports”.
There was also acknowledgement that the facility would “address many of Basildon’s local sports facility deficiencies” and could provide a training camp for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Councillor Anthony Hedley, Tory cabinet member for leisure, said Sport England had raised the stakes in the council’s push to build a Sporting Village.
“Sport England’s backing brings our plans one step closer, not least because they’re charged with delivering the government’s own objectives in sport.
“Thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money is currently being drained on propping-up the district’s sports facilities, with no overall improvement in their standard.
“We have a choice between continuing to fire-hose cash at our ailing infrastructure or taking a bold step to radically improve the quality and choice of facilities available to residents.
“In giving us their backing, Sport England have rightly recognised our aim to build a complex that will give every resident the chance to take part in sport.”
If the council’s plans are successful, the Sporting Village could be open in time for the London Olympics.
Costing up to £35million, the centre would include a 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool, a topflight gymnastics centre and a multi-purpose sports hall.
It would also house a play zone and crèche for children aged three to 13, a gym with a hundred fitness stations, an aerobics studio, café, bar and spectators area.
“This is once in a lifetime opportunity to reverse decades of under-spending in leisure and provide sporting inspiration to a whole new generation of young people,” Councillor Hedley added.
Sport England’s endorsement comes at a time when the council has already ramped up its investment in leisure, announcing improvements totalling more than £1.1million since the start of June.
They include resurfacing the artificial pitch at Gloucester Park, transforming Fryerns open space into a sports ground and revamping the tennis courts at Lake Meadows.
Ends. |
|
|
|