Menu
28/05/2004
New body to seek improvements in school sports facilities
A new group chaired by the Sports Minister is to bring together government and grassroots campaigners seeking new and improved sports facilities.
The move was announced following the latest meeting of the playing fields monitoring group, the body set up in 2000 to examine latest information on their use and any proposals to re-develop facilities.
The playing fields group and the existing sports facilities strategy group will be merged to put playing fields "at the heart of government policy on sport".
It will include government representatives as well as the National Playing Fields Association and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. The Big Lottery Fund, the lottery distributor created from the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund, will also be invited to attend the first meeting in July.
Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, said that planning rules have been tightened up since 1998 to restrict sales and promote real gains in sports facilities when any are re-developed.
The vast majority of approved planning applications have led to the same, or better, levels of facilities, he claimed.
"We had a very useful meeting today and there was a broad measure of agreement with groups like the NPFA. We now need to look at facilities in a wider context but continue to be vigilant about playing fields and open spaces," he said.
"There is a great opportunity here to inform and influence sports strategy across a range of government departments, in a way that has not been the case before."
(gmcg)
The move was announced following the latest meeting of the playing fields monitoring group, the body set up in 2000 to examine latest information on their use and any proposals to re-develop facilities.
The playing fields group and the existing sports facilities strategy group will be merged to put playing fields "at the heart of government policy on sport".
It will include government representatives as well as the National Playing Fields Association and the Central Council of Physical Recreation. The Big Lottery Fund, the lottery distributor created from the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund, will also be invited to attend the first meeting in July.
Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, said that planning rules have been tightened up since 1998 to restrict sales and promote real gains in sports facilities when any are re-developed.
The vast majority of approved planning applications have led to the same, or better, levels of facilities, he claimed.
"We had a very useful meeting today and there was a broad measure of agreement with groups like the NPFA. We now need to look at facilities in a wider context but continue to be vigilant about playing fields and open spaces," he said.
"There is a great opportunity here to inform and influence sports strategy across a range of government departments, in a way that has not been the case before."
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 August 2004
School playing fields promised 'toughest-ever protection'
New guidelines governing the sale of playing fields by local authorities will provide "the toughest-ever protection" for leisure areas, the government has said.
School playing fields promised 'toughest-ever protection'
New guidelines governing the sale of playing fields by local authorities will provide "the toughest-ever protection" for leisure areas, the government has said.
01 May 2003
Consumer groups chew out Cadbury’s sports scheme
Consumer groups have branded Cadbury's Get Active promotion scheme as an “irresponsible ploy to encourage unhealthy eating among kids”. Cadbury's 'Free Sports Kit 4 Schools' scheme offers sports equipment to schools in exchange for Cadbury's chocolate bar wrappers, claiming that it will encourage children to get more active.
Consumer groups chew out Cadbury’s sports scheme
Consumer groups have branded Cadbury's Get Active promotion scheme as an “irresponsible ploy to encourage unhealthy eating among kids”. Cadbury's 'Free Sports Kit 4 Schools' scheme offers sports equipment to schools in exchange for Cadbury's chocolate bar wrappers, claiming that it will encourage children to get more active.
29 July 2011
£4m Fund For Sports Facilities
Communities across Scotland will be able to access more than £4 million funding to improve sports facilities in their area. The cash will be available over the next four years through sportscotland, the Scottish Government's national agency for sport.
£4m Fund For Sports Facilities
Communities across Scotland will be able to access more than £4 million funding to improve sports facilities in their area. The cash will be available over the next four years through sportscotland, the Scottish Government's national agency for sport.
20 December 2010
National Jockey Wins Sports Personality Race
The Co Antrim Grand National winning jockey, Tony McCoy has been voted the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 36-year-old has been the champion jump jockey 15 times and becomes the first rider to win the BBC award after claiming 41.98% of the vote.
National Jockey Wins Sports Personality Race
The Co Antrim Grand National winning jockey, Tony McCoy has been voted the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 36-year-old has been the champion jump jockey 15 times and becomes the first rider to win the BBC award after claiming 41.98% of the vote.
28 April 2008
British Man Dies In Water Sports Accident In Oz
A British holidaymaker has been killed in a water sports accident in Australia. The 31-year-old man - who worked as a doctor - died after falling off a jet ski on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Monday. The Foreign Office said that his wife, 32, who was also on board the hired watercraft, did not suffer any major injuries.
British Man Dies In Water Sports Accident In Oz
A British holidaymaker has been killed in a water sports accident in Australia. The 31-year-old man - who worked as a doctor - died after falling off a jet ski on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Monday. The Foreign Office said that his wife, 32, who was also on board the hired watercraft, did not suffer any major injuries.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost for some and some fog patches in places. Cloudier around the coast of Country Down where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
