Audlem hits the front page again

Roland Hall's Audlem Online report last week on the progress on getting new sports facilities in Audlem, as proposed in last year's Parish Plan, has made the front page lead story in this week's Nantwich Guardian. The Guardian is available at Williams' newsagents, price 25p.

Roland, who is chairman of the Capital Projects Group working on the implementation of the Parish Plan, said: "Following on the excellent initial proposals provided through local architect Bill Campbell a clearer view of what we need and can achieve has emerged. The Sports Centre would be an extension to the back of the existing Public Hall with a separate front entrance."

"It would provide a Badminton Hall at least 9m by 16m and 7m high with a wooden or rubberised solid floor plus a fitness suite 8m by 6m and 4m high. Home and Away Changing Rooms and Showers plus officials rooms for football and Male and Female dressing rooms and toilets (including disabled toilet) for other groups. An entrance would be provided direct from the sports field together with storage for both sports and other equipment e.g. 5A's. A drinks, refreshment and relaxation area is also proposed. The current thoughts are that the Centre would be integral with the Public Hall, sharing heating, water and power circuits. The building would be designed in accordance with the Sports Council Guidance Notes."

"The next stage is to carry out a professional survey of the site and produce outline plans and elevations for the Sports Centre. This will cost between two and three thousand pounds and our first target is to obtain funding for this initial work."

Over the past few weeks, further progress has been made in getting this initial funding. Once the plans are drawn up, major fund-raising work can start with national bodies such as Sport England, the Football Foundation, the Lottery, borough council and any other potential benefactors. It will be a lengthy process but the target is to try and get the new facilities by 2012, when the Olympics come to London. Given Audlem's isolation from other sports facilities, and there have been no new facilities since 1984 when the tennis club raised funds to dramatically improve tennis facilities in the village, there are strong arguments to take on this drive for a new sports hall.

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