Plans to build leisure facility at academy

The Ebor Academy Trust is encouraging residents to have their say on plans for a new community sports facility in Filey.

Ebor Academy Filey, in conjunction with Filey Town Council, Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire Police, has launched a public consultation in order to identify both the demand and mix of amenities required for the facility.

The proposed new amenity would provide access to a fitness suite and activity area seven days a week. There is likely to be some community access during the school day, evenings, weekends and throughout the school holidays to the sports hall, piches and new 3G facilities.

Andrew Galbraith, headteacher at Ebor Academy Filey, said: “As an academy our main goals are to deliver excellent teaching and learning and not to run a gym or fitness centre. However, we do recognise this inclusive scheme represents an excellent opportunity to provide state-of-the-art facilities to our students that can also be shared with our community. We would therefore be very willing to take on the additional responsibility to provide something which can be well used by all.”

As the first phase of the project Ebor Academy Trust is converting the existing tennis courts to an artificial grass surface area (with floodlights) which will allow year-round use for football, tennis, hockey and other team games.

The sports hall will be suitable for a number of sports while the fitness suite would feature resistance and cardio vascular equipment and a loose weights area. The activity area would be used for exercise classes, dance, martial arts and community events. Options will not include a swimming pool due to the costs to build and operate.

Members of the public can complete the survey at www. scarborough.gov.uk/consultation/FileyFutureSports with the deadline being November 7 for entries.