| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Dover House Road Playing Fields | |
| Posted by: | Jim Maddan | |
| Date/Time: | 02/05/10 08:27:00 |
| Martin Below is the press release issued at the end of February 2010 when the matter was announced. I hope it covers all the points Cash boost for playing fields Local schools, sports clubs and community groups can look forward to vastly improved facilities at a sports ground in West Putney following a landmark deal between the council and Roehampton University. Under the deal, the university will invest in upgrading and improving the facilities at the Dover House Road playing fields, in return for a 99 year lease on the site. This funding will provide a new pavilion and new changing facilities as well as a reconfiguration of the playing field to accommodate rugby, football, lacrosse, a running track, a synthetic all-weather pitch and the upgrading of the athletics field events area and the tennis/netball area. Although the university is paying for the refurbishments and enhancements, local community groups will still be able to use the facilities. The university will set up a new booking system that allows local clubs and groups to book pitches at similar prices to the ones they currently pay. The landmark agreement means that the university will also take over responsibility for all the site's running costs including security and maintenance. This will save Wandsworth's council tax payers around £70,000 a year. Executive member for environment and leisure Cllr Sarah McDermott said: "This is a great deal for both local sports clubs and taxpayers. "Local community groups, sports clubs and schools will still be able to use the playing fields, but the facilities will be vastly improved. The brand new pavilion and changing rooms will be especially welcomed. "In addition, the reconfiguration of the playing field means that a whole range of new additional sports will become available while the introduction of an all-weather pitch means that local people will be able to participate in health and fitness activities whatever the weather. "And to cap it all council tax payers will be saved £70,000 a year in running and maintenance costs so the general public are getting excellent value for money." Andy Masheter from Roehampton University added: "This is an exciting partnership agreement with the town hall and one that will benefit not only our students but also the wider local community. "We will be investing in really top quality sports and leisure facilities at Dover House Road. This is a very good deal for the university and also for local taxpayers." Wandsworth was recently named as one of just six local authorities in England and Wales to be singled out for praise by the Audit Commission for the professional way it manages its assets. In its report ‘Room for Improvement’, the commission highlighted the council’s success in generating receipts of more than £1bn from the disposal of surplus assets since 1980. This money, the report says, has helped the council to fund its capital programme without any borrowing. With no debt and no interest to pay, the council maximises the revenue available for frontline services and minimises council tax. The commission has urged all councils to follow Wandsworth's lead and exploit the business potential of the land and buildings they own. Audit Commission Deputy Chairman Bharat Shah said: "While some councils have reaped the benefits of good asset management, many lack the capacity or even the basic information to support strategic planning. "Now that capital funding is scarce, councils need to think about the value in their assets. They can start by addressing questions that are routine in private sector companies - do I need this asset, do I need to own it and am I making the best possible use of it?" |