The long overdue refurbishment of the rundown Hornchurch Stadium crept a step closer on Wednesday evening (14th) when Havering Council's Strategic Policy Committee agreed arrangements for a special team of senior Council officers to work with consultants KPMG on a series of leisure projects, including one for Hornchurch Stadium.
But like most things there is a hitch! The Council's proposals involve handing the running of all leisure facilities to outside groups, operating as leisure trusts, public and private partnerships or other approaches. In the case of Hornchurch Stadium this would almost certainly mean the club working in partnership with Hornchurch Football Club and others. The report to the Council Committee indicated that the Council would support HMAC & the football club "in pursuing a lottery bid for the stadium's comprehensive redevelopment" and that the Council would "actively support" clubs in bidding for such external funding.
Under outline plans being considered by the club some £650,000 would be spent on the stadium. This would include refurbishment of the track, all run-ups and throwing areas; essential health and safety work; and some new build, ideally to include some indoor facilities. It is hoped that funding might be attracted as follows:
- LB of Havering - £150,000 (funding from the Oldchurch Hospital redevelopment)
- LB of Havering - £50,000 (safety works)
- Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust - £150,000
- Sport England Lottery Funding - £300,000
It is early days but already an outline application has been lodged with Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, an "intention to bid" for lottery funds has been registered with Sport England; and contact has been made with UK Athletics, whose Regional Development Officer visited the stadium towards the end of January to see at first hand the run down nature of the facilities.
The progress owes much to the efforts of Club Chairman Doug Tierney who has developed the club's links with the local council since he took over the reins in April 2000. A small club sub-committee is working with Doug and if the plans are to bear fruit they will involve much hard work over the coming months in shaping the initial ideas in line with the requirements of Sport England. But the current position is much more optimistic than it has been for several years.
(added 17/2/01)
Hornchurch Stadium - more likely to get a face lift?