A combined community sport and learning difficulties
facility at Worle Community School in Weston-super-Mare was given
the go-ahead by our Executive yesterday (13
December).
The innovative project will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose
location for learning disability services and enhanced sports
facilities, which will be available to both the school and the
local community.
The new £2.5m facility will include:
- a full-sized 3G artificial turf pitch with floodlighting
- fitness gym
- multi-purpose sports room
- indoor and outdoor changing rooms
- shared reception area
- community internet access
- cafe and kitchen
- multi-functional meeting rooms
- a pottery
- "Changing Places" provision and toilets
- office space.
Subject to planning permission being granted, work will start on
site next year with the new centre opening in early 2013.
The day care services currently provided at the William Knowles
Centre in Weston-super-Mare and at Banwell Pottery, a small
dedicated pottery service based in Banwell, will move to the new
centre at Worle School where Brandon Trust will continue to provide
these services on our behalf.
A three-month consultation has taken place with users of both
the William Knowles Centre and Banwell Pottery about the move to a
new shared facility. Feedback was generally positive with the
majority of people thinking it was a positive move.
Proceeds from the sale of the William Knowles Centre, an old
building which is no longer fit-for-purpose, will go towards the
cost of the new facility at Worle School. The remaining funding
will come from our capital resources and developer
contributions.
It is estimated that moving these services to a new
purpose-built facility will save us £92,000 a year.
Our community meals service, currently based in cramped
conditions at the William Knowles Centre, will also be transferred
to the Worle School site.
The new development will also help address the shortfall of
community sports facilities in the Worle area, a shortfall that
will be increased once new housing is built within the area.
The existing sports facilities at Worle School are not
sufficient to meet the needs of either the school or the local
community.
"I am delighted that this excellent project has come together
and am impressed with the commitment shown by Worle School to take
it forward," said Leader Cllr Nigel Ashton. "It's a win win for
everyone, benefiting the school, the users of the William Knowles
Centre and the local community."
