The sports tent at Heslington West is facing closure, potentially depriving many University sports clubs of much needed indoor facilities.
In 2005 the University was granted a 5-year permit to run the centre on a temporary basis. A permanent replacement was intended to be in place by the end of this period.
As there is still no new centre, the University has asked the City of York Council for an extension of the permit, allowing them to keep the sports tent open for another ten years.
A report on the matter, however, advises the council to deny the request, citing the University’s “lack of firm plans for a replacement” as the reason.
“Temporary planning permission was granted because the applicant specifically volunteered that intention and because it was expected the planning circumstances would have changed at the end of the five-year period and a replacement permanent sports hall would have been constructed”
“The university appears at this stage to have no firm plans for a replacement despite the continuing need for a sports hall at Heslington West. This uncertainty is insufficient reason to justify extending the planning permission by ten years.”
In addition to Uni sports, the closure of the centre would affect local football, basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton teams, community organisations and Fulford School, who all make use of the campus facilities.
Though the current permit expired in June, the centre will stay open until a decision on the matter has been reached.
York Sport officials have emphasised that no decision has yet been made and they will endeavour to play a full and active role in the decision making process.
The University has made a complete mess of this and is really taking the piss out of the Council to request another ten years for a temporary structure.