Post-Olympic £1m boost planned for local sports and leisure projects - current funding now £2.4m

Leisure projects - from landscaping and Green Way improvements to gym and changing room upgrades - are planned, thanks to a proposed council cash boost of more than £1m.

The financial injection, to be discussed at next week's cabinet meeting on Thursday 23 August, would mean a total of £1,030,000 for nine capital projects - and the good news for local council taxpayers is that the bulk of the money (£945,000) would come from S106 developers' contributions.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "This is a fantastic investment in the council's ongoing commitment to providing leisure services that everyone can enjoy - and especially timely after the huge success of the Olympic Games and the swell of interest in sport and keeping active and healthy which we are keen to maintain.

"However, you don't need to be training for the Maidenhead or Windsor Half Marathons or the 2016 Olympics to benefit. Not only are we planning exciting new and upgraded sports facilities but also park and landscaping work that will be appreciated by people of all ages and abilities.

"Thanks to developer contributions supported by some £85,000 from the council's capital fund, we can put forward a really exciting leisure investment programme for the year ahead."

The new list of projects brings current investment in sport and leisure in the borough to £2.4m.

The nine new projects are:
• Expansion of the BodyZone gym and changing rooms at Charters Leisure Centre - £195,000. This will provide more opportunities for local people to use the facilities and the project has been developed as a result of requests from local councillors and in consultation with Charters Recreation Trust and Charters School. Completion by mid 2013.
• Improved changing rooms at Larchfield Community Centre, Desborough Park Pavilion, including upgrading toilets and showers in keeping with the new community centre adjoining the existing pavilion - £90,000. Completion in October 2012.
• Improvements to Kidwells skate park, repainting the netball courts and more landscape improvements to the park - £175,000. Completion by spring 2013.
• Replacement play area and soft landscaping at Evenlode, Maidenhead - £125,000. The old play area will be removed as part of the major refurbishment of the Evenlode flats and a new play area installed by autumn 2013, subject to consultation with local residents.
• Proposed new play area on Allens Field, Ascot - £75,000. Completion by September 2013 subject to consultation.
• Improvements to the Green Way between Cookham and Bray - £45,000. Residents will have access to a more attractive and informative walking experience. Completion by April 2013.
• Landscape improvements to Windsor's Thames Promenade - £45,000. This is the second phase of the recent installation of the replica Hurricane fighter plane in memory of its designer, Sir Sydney Camm. Completion by June 2013.
• Landscape improvements to Shifford Crescent play area, Maidenhead - £10,000. This will include a new footpath as a result of residents' feedback to local councillors following the installation of the new play area. Completion by autumn 2012.
• Re-provision of squash courts in Windsor - a council commitment to pay £270,000 of section 106 funding to a community-based company approved to build new courts (re-providing the existing squash courts at Windsor Squash Club, subject to the developer's approval).

The cabinet report asks members to agree an increase in the council's own capital budget to support S106 funding to that these projects can become a reality.

Cllr Dudley added: "Developers' contributions, supported by judicious use of funding from the council's own capital, will mean great new facilities and improvements for the benefit of our residents. This list of projects across the borough shows the amount that can be achieved without undue effect on the public purse."

Council community sport and leisure projects already under way include:
• the new £530,000 all-weather floodlit rugby pitch at Braywick Park (part funded by the RFU) to open mid-September 2012
• the £440,000 BodyZone gym extension at Windsor Leisure Centre which will add 20% more space when it opens in December 2012
• the new £60,000 'Olympian' flume at the Magnet Leisure Centre pool, just opened and complementing the family flume and water activity area already installed in the pool
• the £340,000 Larchfield Community Centre scheduled to open in November 2012, featuring 12 metre square activity hall with sprung floor which will provide a venue for martial arts, dance classes, table tennis and many other activities for local people. This is the first of a three-phase development of community based facilities in Larchfield.

Supporting people to become fit and active is a key feature of the new joint health and wellbeing strategy being developed by the Royal Borough and the GP Clinical Commissioning Group, who will take on commissioning health services after PCTs are abolished in March 2013. The strategy - a requirement under the Health and Social Care Act - sets out joint priorities to improve health outcomes for local people.

The cabinet meeting will be at 7.30pm in Hurley Village Hall.

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