Authority to lend parish council up to £250k for sports centre works

Rushcliffe Arena (Credit Rushcliffe Borough Council)
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter

A Nottinghamshire authority is planning to lend a parish council up to £250,000 after funding a new sports pavilion proved to be a “challenge”.

Rushcliffe Borough Council documents it is planning to lend the money to East Leake Parish Council.

Work started in January 2022 to modernise facilities at Costock Road Playing Fields to include new changing rooms, showers, toilets, a kitchen and bar area and two club rooms.

The existing wooden pavilion on the site, which is home to several village sports teams, is in a state of disrepair.

But funding for the build has been a “challenge” due to rising construction costs, council documents explained.

A “short-term cash advance” will be repaid by the parish council after it receives external funding for the project.

The total cost of the project is predicted to be £970,000, with some of the money coming from community fundraising.

A website set up to raise funds through a community appeal called the project “highly ambitious” and “unprecedented”.

It said: “Our mission is for a building with high quality fixtures and fittings for regular sport-related socialising, club use, parties and other events. To achieve this, we need to raise at least £30,000 through a community appeal.”

If Rushcliffe Borough Council does not approve the loan, the project could be delayed, documents state.

Rushcliffe councillors will vote on the plans during a cabinet meeting on May 10.