Sports centres should not be in care of council which allows them to fall into disrepair, claims MP Charlotte Leslie
COUNCILS should no longer be in charge of sports centres because they allow them to fall into disrepair, a Bristol MP has said.
Charlotte Leslie said the facilities were vital for communities but were seen as a "drain" on scarce town hall resources.
Speaking at Westminster yesterday, the Conservative MP for Bristol North West cited the cases of the former Robin Cousins Sports Centre and Shirehampton swimming pool. And she called for a new community model for managing sports facilities, saying cash and expertise from the private sector should be used, instead of relying on council officers.
The Robin Cousins Sports Centre closed in 2005 after the city council decided it was not viable or providing value for money. Despite campaigns and attempts for it to reopen, it has been empty ever since, and could now be turned into a warehouse. The centre was named after Mr Cousins, an Olympic gold medal-winning skater, who grew up in Sea Mills.
Five swimming pools – Henbury, Bristol North, Speedwell, Shirehampton and Filwood – were shut at the same time.
Ms Leslie, who organised yesterday's Westminster Hall debate, said: "The model of community sport being so substantially dependent on local authority initial and maintenance funding has meant run-down, off-putting facilities, and has claimed casualties.
"Locally, in my constituency, some years ago, despite a massive community campaign, the council misguidedly sold off the much-needed Robin Cousins Sports Centre and Shirehampton Swimming Pool. Now the community has no proper local sports facilities and a large population of bored youth."
The potential for local community involvement in running and maintaining the facilities has been overlooked, Ms Leslie claimed.
Research showed that investment in new facilities increased participation by at least 10 per cent, she said, telling MPs that Henbury Old Boys football club was struggling to raise funds for renovations, while Shirehampton football club was considering moving from its home ground because of difficulties securing floodlights for the pitch.
Calling for an overhaul in the way they are funded, she said: "If we run the facilities like we've always run them, we'll get what we've always got. A welcome initial investment, then in the long term, an expensive ongoing drain on state funds. State funds which may not always be available to meet the need."
A "social enterprise" model, including the community and donations from local businesses, was needed instead, she said.
Ms Leslie cited the "success story" of Avonmouth National Smelting Boxing Club, which raised funds to build a new gym to accommodate more boxers.
She also called for a new wave of building projects to improve sports facilities, which she said would boost jobs and create apprenticeships in the construction sector.
Labour MPs in the debate pointed the finger at the government, saying planning reforms could threaten playing fields.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson backed the calls for community involvement, recommending funding streams for hard-pressed clubs.
Mr Robertson said he was looking at the issues of planning permission, which is holding back a number of developments, and floodlight availability, which is often restricted as a result of neighbours' objections.
Speaking afterwards, Ms Leslie said she was "very encouraged."
10 Comments
by Javaziz
Thursday, February 02 2012, 3:04PM
“If you read it closely, I think that what is being said is more about small scale ventures. No one would suggest the public would run a big sports centre voluntarily. I think it's the Post which has used the eg of Robin Cousins centre and keeps referring to sports centres. It seems to me that if local people can be inspired to do this sort of things, the facilitges will be better than short-changed council pitches etc. Good to see an MP bringing this forward”
by petebartlett
Thursday, February 02 2012, 2:09PM
“Dingslady said
"@petebartlett, Bristol City Council run Easton, Henbury, Horfield, Kingsdown sports centres, as least I assume they do as they are featured in their website. There's an impressive one opening in Hengrove Park at the end of the month, I believe."
Easton, Henbury, Horfield and Kingsdown Lesiure Centres as well as St Pauls Community Sports Academy and Bristol South Swimming Pool are all run by Sports and Leisure Management Limited trading as Everyone Active - and their associate companies SLM Community Leisure Charitable Trust, SLM Fitness & Health Limited and SLM Food & Beverage Limited. http://tinyurl.com/6oyvp8d
Hengrove Park Leisure Centre will be run by Parkwood Lesiure Limited - http://tinyurl.com/7e6tnaj
So, I don't think Bristol City Council are operating ANY leisure centres in Bristol. Which makes the comments from Charlotte Leslie MP very puzzling. If BEP had researched the story rather than, I suspect, doing a cut-and-paste on her press release then they could have asked her what she was talking about as the Council don't run any leisure centres.”
by brissleblue
Thursday, February 02 2012, 1:19PM
“@torysarecool - really? you would? Charlotte - tart, plain and simple. At least it is on the pud menus I sometimes have chance to read. Not always a good choice - flaky around the edges, soggy bottom, leaves a bitter taste in yr gob pods. Nah, you've got more dignity (:”
by SpinyHedgehog
Thursday, February 02 2012, 11:40AM
“It should be quite obvious that the Council loathes and despises sports, at least those played by working-class people.
Look at the way an all-weather hockey pich was laid across THREE cricket pitches at the Imperial Ground in Knowle. Guess what the incumbent sports officer of the Council played?
Mind you it's even worse in Filton, to the point of parody!”
by rocketbob
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:31AM
“An MP discussing sport in Bristol??????? Well its a start.
Perhaps the Council will at least start a debate. Don`t hold your breath!
Unless of course they are up for re election.”
by J12345678
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:24AM
“The new Hengrove swimming pool is definitely private sector but I can;t get info about how much membership is. It seems I have to visit and likely be pressured into signing something like a gym contract. So I'm going to stick with where I currently go. I did find the lack of info from a company not encouraging for a flourishing future at Hengrove but we'll see...”
by torysarecool
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:12AM
“Photo 2 - yeah baby. I would.”
by jaym00007
Thursday, February 02 2012, 9:49AM
“I'm pretty sure those leisure centres are now run by a private company or at least Henbury is. If they are then it might be one of the reasons they are well maintained. You only have to read other articles on this website to find out how much this council cares about sports facilities.”
by Dingslady
Thursday, February 02 2012, 9:26AM
“@petebartlett, Bristol City Council run Easton, Henbury, Horfield, Kingsdown sports centres, as least I assume they do as they are featured in their website. There's an impressive one opening in Hengrove Park at the end of the month, I believe.
All these seem to be doing quite well and look well maintained, so I don't quite know what Charlotte Leslie is on about. Shame about the Robin Cousins Centre, but it's hardly representative of what's happening to sports centres in general in the Bristol area.”
by petebartlett
Thursday, February 02 2012, 8:40AM
“The photograph is of a leisure centre that CLOSED in 2005, so it is hardly surprising it is 'run down'.
Which, if any, of the sports centres in Bristol are still run by Bristol City Council? I thought they were all operated by external organisations. So, just what is Charlotte Leslie on about?
Just more PR for Charlotte Leslie - is this part of a Mayoral campaign?”