Chesterfield Borough Council has been awarded £2 million in lottery funding and the community will benefit from the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre (QPSC) after being presented with the cheque at yesterday’s launch. The new centre is also receiving funding from Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College.
Sport England’s investment will allow previously approved plans for the new centre to be expanded. It will provide additional activity space increasing the main swimming pool from six to eight lanes, boosting the size of the learner pool, raising the number of sports courts from six to eight, creating an additional studio space and spectator seating in the swimming pool hall and sports hall.
Sport England were impressed with the plans, which put the Chesterfield community at the heart. For example, the new facilities will help encourage local residents to regularly participate in a number of sports, as well as promoting the benefits of health and physical activity.
The facilities and programmes (gymnastics, squash, badminton, climbing, swimming, and basketball) will target young people to provide them with the opportunity to get into sports. The dual-use partnership with Chesterfield College will reach the age group where drop-off traditionally happens.
The new centre has major support from National Governing Bodies who will work in partnership with the council to implement programmes aimed at adults. Extra access to facilities such as swimming, cricket, and triathlon will help increase participation and membership levels and reduce drop-off amongst this group.
QPSC will deliver accessible pathways with local clubs and groups to ensure that there are suitable opportunities for those who have talent and want to progress.
The modern and accessible design of the new centre reflects consultation with disability groups and organisations and will improve access for disabled people. QPSC will support NGB initiatives and programmes promoting activities and health initiatives aimed at disabled people.
Speaking at the launch, Sport England Property Director Charles said: “The right facilities in the right areas are fundamental in providing more people with the opportunity to play sport. We’re investing in the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre to provide outstanding facilities, which will encourage more people to take up sport and create a sporting habit for life.”
Sport England launched the £30m Strategic Facilities fund last autumn to support projects with investments between £500,000 to £2m, to help deliver better facilities, which are fundamental in providing more people with the opportunity to play sport. The fund directs capital investment into a number of key local authority projects that are identified through a strategic needs assessment and that have maximum impact on growing and maintaining community sport participation.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism said: “Along with the collaboration agreement and funding committed by Chesterfield College, this £2 million grant from Sport England will make a huge difference to the quality of the sports provision we will be able to offer to our residents and visitors in the future.”
Trevor Clay, Chesterfield College’s principal said: “Chesterfield College is excited to be partnering Chesterfield Borough Council and Sport England in the development of a new sports centre in the town.”
The project will start next month and will be completed in 2016.