News / Whitchurch Athletics Track
Whitchurch Athletics Track ‘must be protected’
The leader of Bristol’s Labour group says “there can be no more excuses” not to invest in our city’s sports provision.
At the next full council meeting on January 13, there will be a debate on a Labour motion that hopes to commit the council to a number of promises.
These are to:
- keep Whitchurch Athletics Track in its current location
- refurbish the Downs changing rooms
- expedite community asset transfers, including for Netham Pavilions
Southmead councillor and former cabinet member for sport, Kye Dudd, said: “The council needs to play an active role to promote sport in Bristol.
“Sport benefits our physical and mental health, provides an outlet for children and young people, and brings communities together.
“There’s a lot of good work going on such as the Robins Foundation’s investment in Filwood Playing Fields, but the council can do more.
“They’re about to write new strategies to promote sport, but these won’t achieve much unless they’re backed up with cash.
“I’m calling for investment in these strategies so they can achieve their aims.”
Bristol Labour group leader, Tom Renhard, added: “South Bristol has told the council loud and clear: we want Whitchurch Athletics Track protected.
“There are plans to build housing there. However, it is years away and there’s nothing to prevent it being built on a different part of the site.
“We can keep the track while building the same number of homes. Protecting and delivering infrastructure, including community facilities, health services and better transport links, must happen alongside new homes.
“The council has only recently received a huge cash boost from the Labour government that will see the council’s funding increase by £161.4m by 2029, a 30 per cent increase.
“There can be no more excuses not to invest in the services that matter most to our residents, including sport.”
Netham Pavilions could be taken out of council control under a community asset transfer – photo: Ellie Pipe
Bristol City Council leader, Tony Dyer, said: “The Hengrove Park development includes 1,435 homes that our city desperately needs, half of which will be affordable.
“This will include many social homes designed to meet south Bristol’s need for truly affordable housing given its large levels of social deprivation.
“A range of new sports and leisure facilities are being delivered as part of the Hengrove Park development.
“This sports provision must reflect the needs of the diverse local area, so as well as the group campaigning for the athletics track, we will work closely with Bristol City Council’s sports development team and Sports England on developing them.
“This is an alternative option to reopening the old athletics track, which closed in 2010 and has been earmarked for development.
“Retaining the running track would be a material change that would require the planning permission to be revisited, which took years to secure, considerably delaying the delivery of much needed homes in south Bristol.
“We do not feel this would be the right decision when we have such an urgent need to build new homes for our city.
“The public health & communities committee, which Labour are a part of, are considering the Bristol-wide Playing Pitch, Built Facilities & Sport and Active Recreation Strategy which is currently out for consultation.
“As part of this we will be looking at funding methods to refurbish the Downs changing rooms and complete the community asset transfer for Netham Pavilions.”
Main photo: John Pearce
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