Alliance comments on possible closure of the Don Valley Stadium

According to reports from the BBC this morning the Don Valley Stadium, where London 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis trains, could be closed and demolished in a bid to save Sheffield City Council money.

It has been suggested that the closure of the stadium, opened in 1991 for the World Student Games, could save the council £500,000 per year.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said:

"These reports highlight the pressure that local authorities are under with the latest round of cuts.

“The Don Valley stadium is an integral part of sport in the south Yorkshire area and is a household name across the country. Losing this top-class facility so soon after the Olympic and Paralympic games would be a serious body blow.

“Currently sport and recreation provision is not a statutory requirement for local authorities – and as a result we are now beginning to see that this is where the axe will fall as finances tighten.

“It’s vital, therefore, that we continue to press the case for sport and recreation not just for their own sake but because of their proven ability to help combat obesity, improve mental health, enhance employment opportunities and much more – as the evidence so clearly demonstrated in our recent Game of Life research.

“The Alliance will continue working over the coming months to ensure that these far-reaching benefits to the community are not forgotten by the people who make the key decisions on sports facilities.”

For more information please contact head of communications James Stibbs on 020 7976 3933.
 

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