As reported in The Cornishman/West Briton

Newquay sports centre to be model for Hayle?

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Cornishman

AMBITIOUS plans to build a new sports hall in Hayle are set to be discussed by school governors next week.

Former chief executive of Penwith District Council Jim McKenna has been hired by Hayle Community School – the proposed site for the new centre – to carry out an initial report on the proposals.

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   Hayle councillor Brian Capper, centre left, and Cornwall councillor for Hayle South John Coombe, next to him, and other members of the sports hall project team on a visit to Treviglas School, Newquay.

Mr McKenna has been looking at the feasibility of building a sports hall for shared use between the schoolchildren and the community. He will report his findings to the school's board of governors.

He said: "I have been looking at current levels of support and possible next steps."

He added that the intention was to update Hayle town councillors during a public participation session at their meeting at the end of February but that everything depended on what the school governors decided.

The project to build a similar centre in Hayle is being led by the school and supported by local primary schools, Cornwall Council and local police.

Project team members also recently visited the new Sports Hub at Treviglas Community College in Newquay, which the Hayle centre could be modelled on.

That facility has a deluxe sports hall and a fitness suite boasting the latest resistance-training, free weight and cardiovascular equipment.

Hayle town councillor Graham Coad said the visit had been informative.

He said: "It is an impressive facility – lean, modern and designed with the people of Newquay's needs in mind.

"They have a climbing wall, boxing ring, multipurpose sports courts and a gym. Obviously we would not necessarily want the same things for Hayle but it was well designed so that it could be accessed by the children from the school and a separate entrance for the community."

Hayle, Redruth and Camborne MP George Eustice has also become involved.

Mr Coad added: "People have been talking about some sort of sports and leisure facility for Hayle for many years. A full leisure centre with a pool is probably not feasible.

"Hayle is probably not big enough or wealthy enough to support it. A sports hall is more realistic."

For more information and to have a say, go to the new Facebook page 'Sport Hall for Hayle' or visit the Hayle Town Council offices.