£90 000 on Pentathlon as Sports Facilities Cut

Labour Deputy Leader Glyn Griffiths last night again challenged the Tories’ support for the Pentathlon, after raising his concerns a week earlier at the Full Council budget meeting.
The Tories have proposed spending £90 000 on hosting the Pentathlon World Cup, but at the same time have cut sports centres’ opening hours and facilities. 
Cllr Griffiths moved an amendment which accepted Medway’s plan to host the event but proposed that, owing to the reduction in sporting facilities for local residents, the Pentathlon should only be staged if the costs could be met through advertising.
Cllr Griffiths said,
“Whilst I am not convinced that holding an event showcasing epee fencing and show jumping is the best way to encourage participation in sports, I understand the desire to ‘put Medway on the map’.  However, if this event is as popular as the Tories claim, companies should be rushing to sponsor it, and the Pentathlon could be held at no expense to the taxpayer.”
“I find it objectionable that at a time when the Stirling sports centre’s hours have been severely restricted, and the Outdoor Education Centre at the Strand is under threat, the Tories are willing to commit  £90 000 to this event.  This will be a flash in the pan, and is unlikely to encourage much interest in sports, but the cuts to leisure services will certainly deter residents from getting involved.”
“It is also a concern that the last event the Tories organised, the Tour de France, went nearly half a million over budget, so I have little faith that they’ll be able to contain their spending.  The Tories’ skewed priorities, favouring this one-off event over local sports facilities, means that residents lose out again.”
ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Glyn Griffiths on 01634 352734 or Mobile: 07884 260753.  Alternatively contact the Group office on 01634 332393.