Sport Saracens project reaches backing


Revised plans put forward by Saracens rugby union team for the overhaul of Copthall Stadium in Barnet, London, have been backed by two national governing bodies. UK Athletics and the


Rugby Football Union have both indicated support for the £18m plans, which include a refurbishment of existing facilities; new permanent facilities; and the installation of temporary seating. The current main build-


ing to the west of the venue will be redeveloped and a new permanent stand will be built to the east for use by athletics and rugby union spectators. Offering fully covered seating, the total


Saracens plans a mixture of revamped and new facilities at the stadium


capacity of the east and west structures will be 3,000, while the refurbished west stand would also house facilities for clubs and officials. An all-weather surface inside the athletics track


will host up to 16 Saracens matches per year, with the venue made available to the commu- nity and local clubs at other times. For the rugby matches, temporary seating


will increase the seating capacity to 10,000, – 3,000 more than Saracens’ current average attendance Watford’s Vicarage Road.


Te new venue will host its first game in January Sport England to help councils cut costs


Sport England has joined forces with leisure operators and local authorities to help relieve pressure on budgets, without affecting provision. Te agency has organised


seminars outlining solutions that will safeguard facility pro- vision, while achieving up to 30 per cent savings in revenue and capital expenditure. Surrey’s Elmbridge Xcel


Leisure Centre hosted the first seminar, with speak- ers including Sport England property director Charles Johnston. Another took place at Heywood Sports Village, Rochdale, on 7 November, while Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury will host an event on 6 December. Te events will also see the launch of the Affordable 25m Community Pools guide,


Te aim is to help relieve budget pressures without affecting provision


produced by Sport England in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association. Under the approach, building costs will be £2.1m-£4m; operating budgets will generate a surplus of £24,000 per year; and pools could be opened within two years of a decision.


Southampton unveils diving facility for Olympic hopefuls


A new dry-land diving studio has been offi- cially unveiled at Te Quays Swimming and Diving Centre in Southampton. Te new facility incorporates new spring-


boards and trampolines and improved harness and landing facilities, which aim to allow


© CYBERTREK 2011


divers of all skill levels to perfect their skills alongside pool-based training. Richard Sheath, chair of the Southampton


Diving Academy, said: “This is an impor- tant step in maintaining Te Quays as a High Performance Centre for British diving.”


Twitter: @leisureopps


Skiplex opens new indoor skiing facility in Chiswick


Chemmy Alcott, the UK’s female number one alpine ski racer, has officially opened a new indoor ski simulator training cen- tre at Dukes Meadows Golf and Tennis in Chiswick, west London. It is the first facility of its kind to open in


the UK and will provide Londoners with an indoor venue where users can hone their skiing and snowboarding techniques. Personal instructors are also available at


the new Skiplex facility, which the group said is “ideal” for ongoing training and as a practice aid for beginners or improvers.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 3


St Helens RLFC receives keys to new stadium


St Helens Rugby League Football Club has been given the keys to its new 18,000-capac- ity stadium on the edge of the Merseyside town by developer Langtree. Langtree appointed Barr Construction to


build the £25m venue, which has taken 14 months to complete. Arcadis UK acted as project manager on the development. Te next 10 weeks will see work carried


out by the Super League club to fit out the internal areas of the stadium, including kiosks, catering outlets and turnstiles. It is anticipated the first St Helens match will take place at the ground in late January.


Sports Grounds Safety Authority launches


The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA), a new organisation created in order to ensure the safety of spectators at venues across the UK, has been launched SGSA is aiming to build on the work of


the Football Licensing Authority, which helped improve the safety of football grounds. However, SGSA’s remit will now also extend into other sports. Sport minister Hugh Robertson said:


“Te Football Licensing Authority played a critical role in spectator safety at football grounds over the past two decades.”


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