'Plan B' for sports centre clears the first hurdle

The decision, which now goes before the full council on Monday, February 25, comes less than a month after the council vetoed a scheme to spend a potential £4 million on a state-of-the-art complex in the grounds of Malton School, to serve the Norton and Malton area.

The school's delighted head teacher, Rob Williams, who has been masterminding the initiative, said: "The decision is a real breakthrough. We are in unchartered waters, but the scheme is closer to becoming a reality than it has been previously.

''The fact that it achieved crossparty support and unanimous approval of the committee was very encouraging.

''I feel it is much better to achieve a compromise and to recognise public opinion on the issue."

Next Tuesday, Mr Williams is meeting the Football Association to discuss the school's plan for an Astroturf pitch for which the school has agreed to provide £250,000.

Coun Robert Wainwright, chairman of the policy and resources committee, said: "It might not be the RollsRoyce scheme which was originally envisaged, but we feel it will fulfil many aspirations."

He added that the details of the arrangements for the use of the building, split between the school and public, was still to be agreed, and much work still needed to be done, including the possibility of attracting grant aid from other sources.

"We have put a ceiling on the council's spending on the scheme of £1.5 million, " said Coun Wainwright.

Coun Edward Legard, who proposed the new funding scheme, said he had been trying to work out a solution which would be to the mutual benefit of both the council and the school, while at the same time alleviating concerns on funding.

"We have looked at turning the original proposal on its head - that the council becomes a major financial contributor to a school-led scheme."

While the cost of an alternative project has been put at about £1,114,000, there will be infrastructure costs of £300,000 for car parking, highway alterations, lighting and utility connections, said Coun Legard.

He said the council funding would be subject to amended planning permission being granted, community access, running costs and who will be responsible for operating the complex.

The leader of the council, Coun Keith Knaggs, said the policy committee's decision was a further step towards the implementation of what has now become known as 'Plan B'.

"That we are able to move quite quickly is due to Mr Williams's tenacity in looking at more cost-effective alternatives, and to hard work behind the scenes by Coun Legard."

Hesaid the committee had decided to opt for the higher figure of £1.5 million, as opposed to the lower one of £1.14 million, because of possible underestimates in the infrastructure cost.

"Even so, this is a proportionate amount which meets the demand for additional recreational facilities in the Malton area without depriving other parts of Ryedale of access to funding for other projects, " said Coun Knaggs Coun Howard Keal, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: "We have a scheme on the table that will make a huge difference to putting in place the sports provision so badly needed and that people have been wanting to see for years.

''We've reached this point as a result of a determined campaign by supporters of the project, backed by the Liberal Democrats, and the hard work done by Malton School's head teacher, Rob Williams.

"What the community stands to gain is still a high level of design, a first-rate sports hall and all-weather pitch, as well as the potential to become home to a centre of excellence in tennis and athletics.

"At last we have the cross-party support for which we have called all along."

The new move was particularly welcomed by veteran campaigner, John Taylor, treasurer and founder chairman of the Derwent Sports Centre Association.

"I warmly welcome the committee's decision because at long last it seems progress is being made, and I am sure it will be welcomed by people of all ages in the central Ryedale area, " he said.