Athletics club backs track move (From This Is Local London)

Athletics club backs track move

9:46am Wednesday 8th July 2009 in Where I Live By Oliver Evans

AN athletics club chairman says he is “very enthusiastic” about plans to move the Wycombe Sport Centre track to a secondary school.

Dougie Sutherland, chairman of Wycombe Phoenix Harriers, backed a council plan to move the track four miles to Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere.

Wycombe District Council wants to create space for a coach interchange to finance the rebuilding of the sports centre at the exisiting Marlow Hill site (see link, bottom of story).

Mr Sutherland said: “We are very enthusiastic and initial discussions with the council have been encouraging.

“However, these are early days and money is tight so we can’t afford to get ahead of ourselves and we need to work with the council and the school to help deliver the best we can for the community.”

The track is “tired” and the team lived out of an “Iso container” he said.

He said: “We dream of a new track with flood lights to train all year round and a club house.

“How good could that be and how good could our Club become leading up to and beyond the Olympics?” “Design hurdles” were where to put a throwing area and rugby pitch, he said, and creating a pavilion that clubs and schools can share.

He said it was hoped the track would open by September next year.