3rd February 2012

CREWKERNE: Go ahead for sports centre

By Alex Alexander

THE countdown to construction of the George Reynolds sports and youth facility has begun.

The contract to build the £850,000 centre in the middle of Crewkerne can be signed by the Mayor Neil Sturtivant on Monday week (February 13th).

Work will be able to start 21 days later on March 5th. And, if all goes to plan, the centre will be finished by mid-October this year.

The timeline emerged this week when civic chiefs took the bold step to apply for a £150,000 government-backed bridging loan.

The move enables the project to progress even though the council is still waiting for the sale of its West One centre to Haven Health.

There were smiles all round at the town hall on Monday night when councillors unanimously agreed to proceed.

They did so after receiving a positive report from town clerk Jeanne Warner.

She told the meeting: “I have been gathering information with regard to funding. Last year, because we thought there might be a delay in Section 106 monies, we were granted the opportunity to take up a bridging loan.

“We had confirmation today from South Somerset District Council that, not only is the Section 106 money in place, but they have sent an offer today of a grant of £50,000 towards the scheme.”

She said the total sum from South Somerset would come to £292,719.

Mrs Warner revealed that the town council was still in a position to apply for a £150,000 bridging loan from the Public Works Loan Board at an interest rate of just 1.3 per cent.

And in a written report to councillors, she said the remaining project monies would be met by a £10,000 grant from Somerset Youth Service; a £113,000 gift from the Crewkerne Sports Club; and £353,745 from the town council’s own reserves.

Councillor Neil Sturtivant told the meeting: “The funding is in place for the building - all bar £3,000, which I’m sure we can find.”

Councillor Angie Singleton welcomed the clerk’s update on the project’s financial status and the possibility of obtaining the bridging loan.

She said: “This gives us the opportunity to move the project forward. I propose that the town council take up that option.”

Councillor Mike Best added: “We have to move forward before the cost of building materials go up again. We have got to seize the bull by the horns and move forward.”

In a rapid series of votes, members unanimously agreed, first, to apply for the bridging loan; next, to spend £27,850 on demolishing the town’s ageing sports club buildings; and, finally, to authorise the mayor to sign the construction contract with Yeovil builders CS Williams.

The clerk closed the meeting by telling members: “The contract will come to the council on February 13th.

“If it’s signed that night, the commencement date will be March 5th. And it’s a 32-week build.”

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Sturtivant said: “Everyone in the town will be very happy.”