The notes that follow, prepared by James Welbury, the Sports Development Officer for Crowborough Runners, discuss the factors relevant to the provision of a new all-weather running track at the Goldsmith's Leisure Centre in Crowborough. 

SOME FACTS

2012 is less than four years away

Athletics is the anchor sport at the Olympics

We need to improve athletics facilities at grass roots level if we are to achieve fourth place in the medals table (government wish)

We need to encourage as many people, especially youngsters, to take exercise and participate in sport

We need to promote sport to encourage healthier lifestyles

THE HEALTH NEED

Up to 22% of the population is obese

Obesity and lack of exercise is all too rife in the young population.

Athletics, especially running, is one of the best ways to keep fit

The fitter the population, the less it costs the NHS

Sport teaches discipline and keeps kids out of trouble.

The track could be used, if upgraded, by disabled athletes, and those on Primary Care recovery plans – to do nothing discriminates against these groups

THE NEED FOR FACILITIES

Wealden is the largest known English district without an all-weather running track (Population 130,000 plus 50,000 in adjacent Tunbridge Wells, also without  a track)

The PPG17 report stated that the proportion of land used for sporting activities in Wealden (Northern area of Sussex) is below the average, especially in Crowborough

Beacon Community college, a “Sports Centre of Excellence” has no all weather running track or decent athletics facilities

Beacon is linked to 11 local primary schools in a similar position.

The current cinder track is well used by individuals, juniors, local athletic and other sports clubs – a new track would be used by 5 athletics clubs

The existing track, adjacent to a Disabled Accredited leisure and sports centre, is in a state of disrepair and has been condemned as unusable in a recent County Risk Assessment

It is not possible to source cinder to repair the pot-holed and rough track which is often covered in puddles and has very poor lighting

There are no athletics facilities that can be used by disabled athletes in Wealden.

TRACK WHERE IT IS ?

No planning permission is required to upgrade the track in its current location

Planning permission has been given for new floodlighting giving potential all-year round use

It is less than a mile from Beacon Community College, in a central position with good transport links and is within 2.5 miles of several junior schools

It is adjacent to a Disabled Accredited Leisure & Sports Centre with good parking

It is the best cost benefit option costing far less to build than one from scratch

It is adjacent to other sporting facilities and next to the Town Centre

Other schools have to drive to Beacon or the existing track to take part in sport, so it makes no difference to them if the track is kept at the existing site

It is the best short to medium and even longer term option (to get planning permission to build a track in another location would take several years)

A smaller training track could be considered depending on the availability of funds, but the surface must be appropriate, i.e. flat, not tarmac, so as not to damage young joints and to be safe

COULD WE NOT USE ANOTHER TRACK IN SUSSEX ?

The nearest all-weather track is in Lewes over 17 miles away.

After a days work it is not practical for Wealden parents and Clubs to go all the way to Lewes and back to Lewes given  the time and costs involved – this discourages youngsters, adults and volunteers, including coaches, from getting involved in athletics

The track at Lewes is very busy and often booked up. This means some parents have to take children to Worthing even further away

It is difficult and expensive for schools in Wealden to take juniors to other tracks in Sussex which puts them off.

Wealden is a very spread-out rural area  far away from other sports facilities with those living in outlying villages gravitating towards Crowborough for sporting activities

There is no suitable track available for use in nearby Tunbridge Wells

There is no all-weather track at Beacon, even though Beacon say they would like one, they do not have planning permission or funds at present

Crowborough Runners support Beacon school’s idea to have a track at the school, but this would be a very long term project with planning permission required – Beacon have been talking about this since the 1970s

Due to the poor state of the track we are having to limit the junior section of our club and we have a large waiting list – some promising juniors have simply given up sport as a result, including some who achieved national standards

TRACK USAGE - WHO USES AND WOULD USE AN ALL-WEATHER TRACK AND OTHER ATHLETICS FACILITIES ?

Five local athletic clubs. They are Crowborough Runners, Wadhurst, Utopia (in Uckfield), Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells Harriers who use and would use the facilities, a total membership base exceeding 1500

Beacon College. It has upwards of 1800 pupils and is a ‘Sports Centre of Excellence’, with a Sports Development Officer and team who are involved in athletics

Eleven linked Primary schools. Their pupils have already used the existing facilities and could continue to use the track for training, for competitions and for fun days

Disabled athletes

NHS Primary Care patients on recovery plans

Other sports clubs such as the Rugby Club, using the track to gain fitness

Overseas teams practising for the Olympics and for other international meetings, including Grand Prix meetings, bringing money to the area.

Inter-school and inter-regional athletics meetings

Freedom Leisure Sports Centre Clients

Local Triathlon clubs such as Crowborough and East Grinstead

Women and children wanting to run in a safe and secure environment

Charities, for example Sport Relief with the 'Run the Extra Mile' type of events.

The general Public. A recent Runners-World (athletics magazine) survey indicated that 20% of the population jog or run, giving a potential user base of 4000 for those living in Crowborough on its own.

PROJECT COSTS

The Town Council, who own the land have recently tendered for the track upgrade

A detailed plan of the track, fencing and floodlighting is available from the Town Council clerk on request

Cost, including laying a new track, fencing, floodlighting etc is between £250,000 - £350,000 (Quotes have been provided to the Town Council)

A tarmac track would cost £82,000 per two lanes laid down, however a refurbished cinder one could be better than nothing if cinder could be sourced, which is doubtful

Any loan obtained by the Town Council could be obtained at a low rate of interest.

Funding has been sought from Sport England, the Athletics Governing bodies and the Big Lottery fund, but no funding has been forthcoming due to “other priorities” according to these bodies, e.g. Chichester / Bognor.

Wealden District Council has not passed any monies obtained from Planning Gain, for example when new housing has been built, or the when the new Morrisons was constructed to the Town Council to help them improve such facilities.

It is our opinion that Wealden have failed in their promise to support and encourage athletics in the area. In Horsham (Broadbridge Heath), for example, has a six lane track adjacent to a Leisure Centre (no school attached), largely financed by Planning Gain monies , which is not helpful

The Club is now approaching potential business funding partners who would benefit from being associated with the project and would be seen to be helping the local community, particularly youngsters – they could advertise around the track, for example.

THE FUTURE

Crowborough Runners see the laying of a new All-Weather track in Crowborough as a short to medium term project, lasting up to 15 years or more, enabling those of all ages and abilities to undertake training and athletic activities on a safe and disabled accredited site with the best cost-benefit option in the Town and in Wealden

The town could benefit from an increase in juniors taking up athletics as a result and it would attract overseas athletes in the run up to and during the Olympics, including disabled athletes. It would be a missed opportunity for the town and local jobs to do nothing

Track entrance and booking fees could be managed and passed onto the Town Council by Freedom Leisure, the adjacent Leisure Centre.

General maintenance such as cleaning, sweeping leaves off the track and replacing bulbs, could also be undertaken by Freedom Leisure

Block booking could be dealt with via the Town Council in liaison with Freedom Leisure.

Price structure and payments would be geared to cover costs of maintenance and help to repay some of the capital costs.

Further funding should be obtained from Planning Gain monies obtained by Wealden to meet the requirements of PPG17 if available

Letters of support for the track can be obtained from Crowborough Runners and more information can be found at www.crowboroughrunners.org.uk