Sport and leisure being overlooked

RECENTLY the Arts Council gave grants to Cheltenham Festivals, Cheltenham Trust and the Everyman Theatre that amounted to nearly £2.5m.

These were very welcome and will be vital support for these three organisations which are a key part of Cheltenham’s culture and economy and where COVID has had a major impact on their operations.

However sport and other leisure activities seem to have been ignored.

The Government announced months ago that where councils have lost income because of COVID, they will get funding to cover most of that (75% excluding the first 5% with the council having to cover the rest).

That includes leisure services but only where they are provided directly by the council.

Where the council provides these through a third party there is no support.

In Cheltenham’s case the Cheltenham Trust was set-up to run the council’s five major venues. While the Trust operates independently it is paid an annual grant by the council.

The same applies in many areas across the country.

So while the Trust has now had support from the Arts Councils for its ‘artistic’ activities there is nothing for the ‘sporting’ side.

This makes no sense whatsoever. Sport and leisure activities are important for everyone’s health and wellbeing and this is as true in Cheltenham as anywhere else.

The leisure centre, swimming pool and Prince of Wales Stadium were all shut down by COVID but have gradually reopened.

The Trust has done a great job by introducing the Garden Bar and Pump Room cafés and many virtual events.

But the on-going restrictions on use of venues have clearly hit income and long term decisions to make operations sustainable are having to be taken.

The Local Government Association has been lobbying national government to sort out this anomaly with sports and leisure services but nothing has happened yet. It’s not too late for the Government to do the right thing but it is now urgent.