Tewkesbury's only sports centre may close
Tewkesbury's only sports centre may be forced to close.
With less than eight weeks to go before the borough council stops funding the facility at Tewkesbury School, a deal on its future has yet to be struck.
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Steve Brimfield
Both parties had hoped the school would take on the running of the centre, used by pupils in the day and the public in the evenings and weekends.
But its governors fear that will not happen because the council is insisting it will only offer the school a one-off grant if the school commits to running the centre for 15 years.
The governors feel that is far too long a period, especially because they are uncertain how much it will cost to run the venue.
In a statement, the school said: “It was hoped that we would take on the running of the sports centre from April 1.
“However, despite many attempts to reach an agreement, the governors believe the council’s current demands are not financially sustainable.
“Despite a number of meetings, the council has not changed its demands and this has made it impossible for the school to take on the risk of the existing sporting operations.
“We still hope the council will compromise before time runs out – otherwise the existing community sports provision will be ended by the council on March 31.”
The council is withdrawing its annual £30,000 funding for the centre, as part of a cost-cutting measure which will also see it withdraw funding from sports centres at school sites in Bishop’s Cleeve, Brockworth and Churchdown.
It has offered the schools in Tewkesbury, Bishop’s Cleeve and Brockworth one-off sums to help them run the centres without on-going council funding.
Tewkesbury School feels the condition attached to its offer of £180,000 is unreasonable and suggested agreeing to run the centre for seven years.
Councillor Phil Taylor, the council’s lead member for economic development and promotion, said: “We have been involved in two years of positive discussions with the school, during which time we have outlined the need for a 15-year agreement in return for a financial investment.
“We are saddened to hear, at this late stage, that the governors are unable to agree to that length of time. We have had further discussions with the school and are hopeful of a positive outcome.”
49 Comments
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by Mr Grumpy, Winchcombe
Monday, March 01 2010, 11:52PM
“I see the truth hurt and I was removed. Tewkesbuy town is still a piddly little place and tewkesbury Borough Council should start looking after the rest of us and leave the town to sort it own mess out. Only offering a grand toward something that could have cost 100 grand just show want the Town Council really thinks trade is worth.”
by Roger, Tewks.
Thursday, February 25 2010, 4:05PM
“25th February 2010 :
LATEST NEWS REGARDING SPORTING FACILITIES AT TEWKESBURY.
I received the following email from Sharon Marriott P.A. to Chief Executive :
Dear Roger
Further to my acknowledgement yesterday, I can inform you that this
matter is being discussed at Full Council this evening and I will be in
touch again soon to let you know the outcome.
Yours sincerely
Sharon Marriott
P.A. to Chief Executive”
by Roger, Tewks
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 12:17AM
“LATEST NEWS REGARDING SPORTING FACILITIES AT TEWKESBURY.
Good news, I received the following email from Sharon Marriott P.A. to Chief Executive, TBC; Lets hope the chief executive will support the need for Tewkesbury to have decent Swimming & Sporting facilities.
The email said:
Dear Roger
Please accept this email as acknowledgement of receipt of your emails of
18th and 22nd February.
Thank you for drawing these comments to Mr Dawson's attention.
Yours sincerely
Sharon Marriott
P.A. to Chief Executive”
by Roger, Tewks
Tuesday, February 23 2010, 1:25AM
“David Street, Ashchurch :
There is no need to demolish the existing Council Offices for the proposed new Leisure Centre as there is enough land adjoining it on Lincoln Green Lane. Alternatively, I have been informed a local land owner has offered some land 100 yards away from the Council Offices that doesn¿t flood, if more land is needed... It¿s over to the Council then.”
by David Street, Ashchurch
Monday, February 22 2010, 10:44PM
“As a Tewkesbury School Governor and a Councillor at Ashchurch Rural Parish Council, I just thought I might make a few points for the record. I do not recall being in negotiation with TBC for the last two years over this issue. We were only seriously asked to take on the facilities when a statement was received from TBC that they were pulling out of the present agreement to subsidise the centre, when it comes to an end on 31st March 2010, during the last year. Having received this statement of intent, we were asked to indicate an expression of interest in taking the facilities and responsibility for the present Tewkesbury Borough Staff on. We did not wish the community to lose its access to the centre or it's staff to lose their jobs but any agreement had to reflect our future ability to continue to run the facilities in a viable manner and , at minimum, 'break even'. I think that it is necessary to inform the public that it would be unlawful, improper (and in fact impossible) for the school to spend any of the education budget to support the scheme. having agreed to enter into negotiations that I was party to, we were subjected to a degree of pressure, as a Governing Body, to come to an agreement on the figures being offered during August (when the school was not open) so that it could be put before a TBC Council Meeting in September. We agreed, for the good of the community and the School, that 'in principle' we would agree to take on the facilities as long as the figures stood up and the funding was forthcoming. The figures mentioned seem quite significant, however they only represent roughly the same amount of funding as the subsidy for six years. Due to the tired state of the present buildings we would have to spend a considerable amount of this funding on refurbishment to make the buildings fit for purpose and that did not include any money for the swimming pool, which is on its last legs. Regardless of this situation, TBC expects us to enter into an agreement to continue to provide the facilities for the next fifteen years and for our part agreement on those terms would be untenable and amount to recklessness. We sought to agree a lesser period for a similar amount of funding and believed that we had reached an agreement until an email was received from TBC on 4th February 2010, approximately 25 minutes before we were due to commence our most recent Full Governing Body meeting. In terms we were given a 15 year 'take it or leave it' ultimatum. Quite frankly, all of the negotiation that had been engaged in for many months (free and voluntarily on our part I might add), was reduced to a few minutes when the Governing Body was forced to unanimously reject the content of that email. As Trustees of the School and a responsible Governing Body, which must place the education of our children uppermost, we were forced to consider our legal position and that of future Governors and withdraw. We would still like to provide the facilities that we believe the community needs, however although we feel that we have been pushed into a corner the door to the room is still open. Whilst I apologise for the sporting reference, the ball, as they say, is now in Tewkesbury Borough Council's Court. As far as talk of a new centre is concerned, the Council is pulling out of the present agreement on grounds of cost, so I hardly think that they will be funding any alternative scheme. Furthermore, I may be wrong, but I was led to believe that the proposal to site facilities at Lincoln Green Lane depended upon and included the demolition of the present Council Offices, which were to be relocated elsewhere. I had heard that the site under consideration was Healings Mill until 'under consideration' became 'under water' when the site flooded in 2007.”
by Roger, Tewks.
Monday, February 22 2010, 7:32PM
“Well, as I expected, nothing yet from Mr Mike Dawson
Chief Executive
Tewkesbury Borough Council !
Glad I didn¿t hold my breath¿¿Come on the people of Tewkesbury, write or email this TBC Chief Executive and get some action on our new Leisure Centre NOW !”
by Roger, Tewks
Thursday, February 18 2010, 5:16PM
“Maybe, just maybe; after receiving an email I have just sent with an attachment of all the comments written in this section the chief executive will get off his backside and represent the best interest of the residents of this borough. I can only hope ............But I won't hold my breath.............”
by GM, Tewkesbury
Thursday, February 18 2010, 12:50PM
“Maybe contacting the Chief Exec lots of times may show him Tewkesbury people are passionate about this matter.
His contact details are
Mr Mike Dawson
Chief Executive
Tewkesbury Borough Council
Council Offices
Gloucester Road
Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire
GL20 5TT
United Kingdom
chiefexecutive@tewkesbury.gov.uk
01684 272001
Happy contacting”
by helen, glos
Thursday, February 18 2010, 8:17AM
“this is likely to be removed again but
speak to your borough councillors they make the decisions and are elected by YOU to represent YOU and the whole community now and for the future. Any questions can easily be answered through the 'freedom of information' route. This government has spent a lot of money encouraging empowerment and its up to the Local Authourties under the watch of the Audit Commission to implement these changes, if not write to Gordon Brown.
Where's Robin and this weeks news?”
by Roger, Tewks
Thursday, February 18 2010, 2:28AM
“Last person to leave Tewkesbury....TURN THE LIGHTS OUT !”