Centre plan may get extra funds

Thursday 6th December 2007, 6:17AM GMT.

A £2 million plan to build a leisure centre in south Shropshire could be given a £760,000 boost by district councillors.

The county council has already given £1 million for the Church Stretton centre.

Now the scheme could get a further windfall from South Shropshire District Council.

It means the community will have to find only a small proportion of the cash needed for the project to go ahead. Members of the district’s executive committee are to recommend approval of the spending plan at a meeting of the full council on January 10.

Officials want to make sure they complete major projects before the launch of a unitary authority for Shropshire, which will replace the district council.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, leader of the district council, said the £760,000 would be offered as a contribution towards the proposed Leisure Scheme for Church Stretton.

She said: “If our members agree to this package, and the county council accepts our offer to put funds into the project, we will be able to make a major investment into the community infrastructure.”

The county council has already agreed to fund the construction of a four-court sports hall for the use of Church Stretton School.

It is hoped that the capital injection from the district council will catalyse the development of additional facilities, including a multigym, dance hall and café/reception.

View more: South Shropshire news.