4th February 2008

North Lincolnshire could miss out on millions of pounds of investment due to the incompetence of the local Conservative group.

Cllr Christine O’Sullivan, Labour cabinet member for leisure, Arts and Culture, has today criticised the opposition Tory group after it was revealed the London Organising Committee did not select the Sports Academy for a potential 2012 Olympic training base because it is not yet built.  This is despite plans for the project originally being announced by the then-Tory council FIVE years ago.

Quibell Park in Scunthorpe has been selected by the committee as a possible training base for the London Olympics. But the investment could have been twice as good had the sports academy, also set to be based in Scunthorpe, been built. The committee told the council the only reason the Sports Academy could not be considered is because it is not yet built. The local economy will miss out on a boost now only one set of athletes, not two, will visit the region.

Cllr O’Sullivan said: “The only reason the committee has not chosen the Sports Academy is because it’s not built – and the blame lies solely with the Tories. For four years successive Conservative leaders allowed the project to meander along without any direction.  In fact the only thing they did build was a sign to say where it would be!

“15 months after that sign was erected and still a brick has not been laid. The scheme has been rescued by Labour and a planning application has now been submitted. We hope to start work in January 2009 and have the facility open sometime in 2010. But who knows how many millions of pounds could have been invested in North Lincolnshire if the Tories had got their act together and built it, rather than promising the world and delivering nothing.

“I think Cllr Liz Redfern, the Tory leader, should apologise to the local people and local businesses who will now miss out on a cash windfall. Having the sports academy as an Olympic base could have brought huge investment to the town – but thanks to Tory incompetence we shall now miss out.”

Facilities chosen by the committee will give teams and individual athletes the chance to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games. It means towns and cities across the country will receive visits from athletes, coaches and others, helping to not only raise the profile of each area, but also invest money in the local economy.