The Regional Sporting Facility Campaign
| Published: 4th March 2008 22:58 |
The Regional Sporting Facility Campaign Begins
Mike Hamblin, president of the Hastings Seagull Swimming Club, has summed up the current position of the campaign to get a Regional Sporting Facility for the Hastings and Rother areas as "A Good Start - now the hard work begins".
The RSF campaign has been started by a combination of personnel from the Hastings Seagulls, Bexhill Swimming Club and 1066 Swimmers. Together they have mad a joint approach to both Hastings Borough Council and Rother District Council.
To view the proposal, use this link.
Both Hastings and Rother have indicated that they are prepared to look at the concept in principle. However, most of their efforts at the moment are going into the provision of two separate smaller facilities, one for each authority.
Mike Hamblin gave his view on their approach, " Such an approach is fine but, as the example of the K2 at Crawley shows, local facilities will attract local support, whereas regional level facilities will attract regional support."
"A single, quality venue will not only give residents improved facilities, but would also attract competitive events from across the south-eastand even the country."
"These are the sorts of events that can help to inspire our children and get them away from their computer screens. This can have huge benefits, both for personal fitness and helping keep kids out of trouble, but perhaps more importantly, is seen by government as an essential tool in the fight against obesity.
"We have already received support from a number of local doctors who share the Government's concerns regarding the obesity issue. Unfortunately, they see little evidence locally of a co-ordinated process to start to combat it."
As part of the process to get the local community behind the proposals and to show those who need persuading tangible proof of the backing, the clubs have launched a petition.
Mike Hamblin explained "We are approaching the 1,000 signature mark from swimming contacts alone, but any sporting facility will need the support of everyone in the Hastings and Rother areas."
"We are starting to involve all sporting disciplines in the are,a from clubs to national sporting names, to emphasise that any new facility will cater for numerous activities in addition to swimming, but it is numbers which will let our elected members know that we will not settle for second-best facilities."
The people of Plymouth raised 10,000 signatures in their successful campaign. If the people of Hastings and Rother wish to see quality sports facilities for their children then we need to match that (the 10,000 signatures), and that would surely be within our grasp."
Copies of the petition are available from the campaign co-ordinator Terry Fitzgerald, either by e-mail Senlac_50mtr@yahoo.com or by contacting him on 07795012822.
To find out more details have a look at our RSF campaign page.
Why not download a copy of the petition here and submit it in support of this very credble proposal.
