A Ross town councillor is spearheading a proposal to improve the town’s sports facilities which, he claims, are currently letting the town down.
Councillor John Edwards, chairman of the Finance and Administration Committee, referred to the Ross Sports Centre as “a disgrace” and said that an independent sports council was needed to co-ordinate all the town’s sporting activities in order to facilitate additional grant funding opportunities.
He raised the issue at last week’s town council meeting where the chamber supported the proposal.
‘Hand over control’
After speaking to Tony Featherstone, the official at Herefordshire Council responsible for sporting activities, Cllr Edwards said he felt confident the council would be prepared to “hand over control” of the Sports Centre to a properly constituted organisation consisting of a council of independent members with business management experience.
Cllr Edwards told the Journal the “inadequate” Sports Centre lacked enough changing rooms and was “generally awful”.
Cllr Edwards believes that an overall “umbrella” organisation co-ordinating sporting activities would not only improve the facilities but also have financial benefits for the town.
He said: “There are some good sports clubs in Ross but they need funding and I believe we can access grants that are not currently being tapped into by bringing it all together with some sort of official co-ordination.
“It is vital to the community that we have proper sporting facilities for young people to channel their energy into.”
Located on Wilton Street, the Sports Centre is owned by Herefordshire Council and leased to the individual clubs that use it. It is under the management of Halo Leisure.
Brian Atherton, executive officer of the Ross-on-Wye and District Chamber of Commerce said: “The Ross Chamber fully supports Cllr John Edwards’ proposal for a Ross Sports Council, one aim being to take the Ross Sports Centre back into local ownership or, at least, local management.”
At its executive meeting last Thursday, the Chamber said it was willing to seek the support of local business to participate in the proposal.
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Mr Atherton said: “Sports activities are vital to the development of balanced youth and it is in businesses’ interest to support that development.
“Without it, the area has no future other than as a retirement zone.”
Cllr Edwards is fully aware of the task in hand, not least being able to find credible volunteers for the committee who have the relevant management experience, but he is keen to “keep the momentum going” by pushing forward with suggestions as soon as possible.
Cllr Edwards said: “Part of being a councillor is doing something about things, it is a big job but we have a desire to do something to improve the situation.
“I am sure there will be some opposition but I have already had good response from a lot of people.
“We are in the early stages and I hope the council will fully endorse the proposal once we have a firm one in place.”
He is now preparing for a meeting of representatives from the various clubs which use the centre – to be followed by a meeting of general sports clubs in Ross – with the intention of having a proposal to present to the council early in the new year. Anyone interested in volunteering to get involved should contact Cllr Edwards on 01989 769090.
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