|
Breaking News - SPORT ENGLAND SUCCESS
The newly-established
Ross Sports Centre Community Interest Company is celebrating a
successful bid for £50,000 to Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.
Therese Warwick,
Chairman, said the grant would be used to refurbish the tired, worn out
facilities at the site. The work would concentrate on the four existing
changing room, the officials’ changing room and to put in brand new
showers and toilets. A new hot water tank and essential shutter repairs
would be also undertaken as part of the refurbishment programme.
Local Member of
Parliament for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Jesse Norman and George
Greszczuk from Sport England presented the cheque at a ceremony at Ross
Sports Centre on Friday (11th May) which was also attended by Roger
Parckar from Dawley Services and Martin Davies of PGL.
Jesse Norman paid tribute
to the Trustees and wished the project every success in the future.
Therese Warwick told the
assembled guest that there were many people to thank for their support
with the project. Firstly John Edwards and fellow Trustees in the Ross
Sports & Leisure Federation for their unfailing commitment to the
project. The RSLF benefitted from financial contributions from Martin
Davies at PGL and Roger Parckar from Dawleys. These initial donations in
2008 enabled the RSLF to commission an independent feasibility study on
the sports centre which was the catalyst for change. Sports Solutions GB
conducted the study and consulted widely with local sports clubs,
Herefordshire Council, etc. The findings were published in October 2009.
They recommended that for
Ross Sports Centre to be saved for the community and to operate viably
and sustainably for the future, a stakeholder, club-led structure should
be adopted to develop and deliver facility and pitch improvements.
Stakeholder clubs had a vested and ongoing interest in the site and
could take a more active role in the operation and management of the
facilities.
In December 2010 Ross
Sports Centre CIC was formed when three sports clubs committed to
working together in a new umbrella organisation: Ross Cricket Club, Ross
Juniors FC and Ross United FC are stakeholder clubs with representation
on the Management Committee. The new organisation is working hard to
improve the operation of the facilities and its long-term development
into a high quality multi-sports hub to serve the people of Ross.
Other clubs use the
pitches and facilities on a regular basis including Ross Rugby FC and
Ross Junior Rugby FC, Howle Hill FC and Weston Athletic FC.
Therese paid tribute to
Tony Featherstone at Herefordshire Council for his long-standing support
for the project and to Dave Tristram from HC’s regeneration team and Rob
Grunsell from Community First for their guidance.
Jesse Norman, Joyce
Thomas, Phil Cutter and the trustees of Ross Sports & Leisure
Federation, particularly Phil Watters, were thanked for their ongoing
support for Ross Sports Centre. Lastly fellow trustees of Ross Sports
Centre CIC were commended for their commitment to working together for a
new beginning at Ross Sports Centre.
Lastly Therese added that
“working with volunteers in our local grassroots sports clubs is a
privilege. It is heart-warming to see so many people volunteering in
sport. They choose to give up their free time week after week, year
after year, to provide our local young people with a wide range of
sporting opportunities. Without them Ross would be a much duller place
to live – we are very grateful to all of them and for their renewed
interest in the Sports Centre as a hub for community sport in Ross. This
fantastic award from Sport England is the first step in a new era for
Ross Sports Centre. The first phase of Ross having the sporting
facilities it deserves.”
|
