A decision on funding for a new leisure centre in Lichfield is due by the end of the year, a Government Minister has said.
Lichfield District Council has applied to the Levelling Up fund for the money to pay for the new facility earmarked for Stychbrook Park.
The local authority is looking to replace Friary Grange Leisure Centre, but saw an earlier bid for funding knocked back.
But a second round of bidding has seen the council put in a new bid for the money.
Dehenna Davison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, told Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant a decision would be made by the end of the year.
“All bids to the second round of the fund, including Lichfield District Council’s’ bid, are now being assessed following the robust process set out in published guidance.
“I hope you will understand that I cannot discuss the specifics of individual bids further during this period of competition while bids are being evaluated.
“I look forward to announcing the outcome of all bids later this year.”
Dehenna Davison
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said he hoped positive news would be forthcoming when the results of the funding round are announced.
“Thanks to Michael Fabricant for raising our ambitious £15million Levelling Up Fund bid with Michael Gove – and thanks to Dehenna Davison for the update.
“I’m very much looking forward to hearing a final outcome before the year is out – we’ve got a leisure centre to build.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
But Labour’s Cllr Dave Robertson said the Government should not be keeping communities in the dark any longer.
“We’ve been waiting for four months already and meanwhile the budget that’s being used to keep Friary Grange open gets smaller and smaller.
“These delays can have real world impacts and we deserve an answer.”
Cllr Dave Robertson, Lichfield District Council
Uh oh……anxiety alert at LDC. A pending decision that isn’t related to a new development of OAP accommodation. They might actually have to do something that benefits the local community. They won’t know where to start. For their sakes and for the sake of their cushy jobs I hope this funding is not granted.
Actually on 2nd thoughts…..it’s obvious what’s happening here. They’ve had a ‘heads up’ that the funding will be granted. Why else would Fabricant speak about this issue so publicly in Parliament? Why is Doug P so keen to make bold statements about it being built? What is at play here? Is this Fabricants swan song / legacy…..he retires off to the glorious sunset after leaving us with a new leisure centre or is this politics at play from LDC? local Tories tell Fabbo to get us the funding needed or we won’t support your position as Conservative candidate anymore? If this funding is granted then it has to be fishy.
Have the comment from the residents of Lichfield been taken into account . This building not wanted on this site for all reasons previously noted . There are other locations available
That proposed layout looks awful. It’s tiny. I could get more exercise and leisure activity done in my shed. Disappointment is guaranteed with this one.
Which year are we talking about here?