Handy Cross track to move to school
11:48am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in Where I Live By Oliver Evans
Wycombe Sports Centre
THE athletics track at Wycombe Sports Centre is to move to a secondary school to make way for a bus interchange.
Councillors have agreed to move the track four miles to Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere to help finance a re-build of the sports centre at Handy Cross.
The plan will need permission from Wycombe District Council, which owns the sports centre on Marlow Hill.
This is to “realise the maximum possible land value” of the Handy Cross site to pay for the sports centre, minutes of a meeting closed to the press last month show.
The interchange will include national coach services and a park a ride facility, re-located from nearby Cressex. WDC will spend £50,000 to complete the project.
The council last year delayed rebuilding the sports centre as it could not raise enough cash through land sales to pay for it (see link, bottom of story).
Wycombe Phoenix Harriers and Handy Cross Runners, which use the track, were this morning unavailable for comment.
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
Councillor Katrina Wood, WDC cabinet member for younger and older people, said: “I am delighted that this decision has been made.
“With proposals to install a new regional coachway at the Handy Cross site it was imperative that a decision was made about the relocation of the track in order to prevent this project being delayed.
“With the support of Sir William Ramsay School the first part of this jigsaw has been completed whilst ensuring there will be no loss of sporting facilities, or break in continuity of athletics provision."
Gaynor Comber, head at Sir William Ramsay in Rose Avenue, said: "This is an exciting opportunity which will enhance student opportunity whilst placing the school at the heart of the community ensuring the development of true community cohesion."
The council said the track and pavilion will meet UK Amateur Athletics Guidelines and “enable local and regional competitions to continue to be hosted in the Wycombe district”.
The school and council will now hold discussions on how the track will be managed.
A public consultation will take place later in the summer, including an exhibition.
Comments(14)
yog
says...
12:55pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Punchy
says...
1:21pm Tue 7 Jul 09
What about the safety aspect, will all track users be CRB checked to make sure they don't have a record?
Because of these two issues, I'm guessing that individual users are about to lose access to a local running track and that it will be reservable only for the likes of Phoenix and HC-Runners on club nights?
TheT0nemeister
says...
1:33pm Tue 7 Jul 09
thethe wrote:No Councillors do not have to take an exam as they are thick as pig dollop.
Great idea - more congestion for Handy Cross. Do Councillors have to pass an "I've got no common sense" exam to get in?
They have to be seen to be doing something whether its passing traffic chaos plans or botching up public amenities.
They would never get employed in the private sector as that usually requires making good judgement and ultimately money.
Catflap
says...
1:39pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Spitfire
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1:42pm Tue 7 Jul 09
TheT0nemeister
says...
1:45pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Catflap wrote:The probable reason for this is Wye Valley is a half decent school. Most runners come from more deprived schools where they tend to steal and do plenty of running to escape. By putting the running track there we increase our chance of finding olympic runners for the 2014 olympics.
Why can't hte track be moved to Wye Valley school.it does have sports status. with regards to the interchange there are 2 large schools here with 2,500 students. loads of traffic congestion already and this will make it worse. Completely stupid idea that only waste of space councillors could come up with.
am i the only one
says...
2:06pm Tue 7 Jul 09
SDJones
says...
2:12pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Nernie
says...
4:56pm Tue 7 Jul 09
As i said, good on Ramsay... But Good Luck!!
(Speaking as an Ex-Student)
thethe
says...
5:33pm Tue 7 Jul 09
HW1
says...
11:04pm Tue 7 Jul 09
Punchy wrote:Nobody has mentioned thye First Aid side of things. Presumably the School Receptionist will do that too. I am aware that the First Aiders at the sports centre are highly trained to a standard that would not be found at a School. Oh and by the way it will take longer for ambulances to get there too!! Think again councellprs you are making a very big mistake.
There is currently a charge for using the track at Handy Cross, will the school receptionist become a cashier too? What about the safety aspect, will all track users be CRB checked to make sure they don't have a record? Because of these two issues, I'm guessing that individual users are about to lose access to a local running track and that it will be reservable only for the likes of Phoenix and HC-Runners on club nights?
stumps
says...
1:48pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Apart from all the other rubbish you spout, (and whatever you believe about their motivation)most local councillors have retired from senior positions in private industry! If you think you can do the job better, get yourself elected!
The rest of you - why don't you look at the plans before you make pointless comments? All the answers are available if you take the time to look, but I guess it's just easier to snipe!!
bakerbill
says...
3:03pm Wed 8 Jul 09
You couldn't make it up Unbelievable .
thethe says...
12:16pm Tue 7 Jul 09