Possible lifeline for threatened sports centre

A popular sports centre could become a badminton centre for excellence as a way to secure its future.

Kingsdown Sports Centre is currently facing permanent closure to save council money but a new proposal could see new life breathed into the building and enable it to continue providing facilities for the community.

Badminton England has expressed support for the campaign to keep the sports centre open and is in the “embryonic” stages of talks with its operators to revitalise the much-loved facility.

The emerging narrative is based on both the accessibility of badminton as a sport and the “largely unseen” role it already plays in the area, as revealed at a meeting held between Badminton England and KSC on Wednesday, December 8.

KSC has produced a string of successful local players at club level, historically and presently, some of whom have trained in the facilities for more than 40 years.

The sports centre could be saved by a partnership with Badminton England – photo by Martin Booth

The sports facility on Portland Street has been under threat of closure since Bristol City Council announced its proposed ‘leisure investment strategy’, which would see extra money invested in three of its nine sports facilities but funding withdrawn from Jubilee Pool and Kingsdown Sports Centre.

A consultation ran until November 7 and presented the public with the option to choose between three investment options – all of which involved the closure of KSC, which was branded a ‘failing gym’ with ‘tired and ageing facilities’.

The council’s plans to shut facilities have been met with a public outcry, and campaigns to retain the centre have amalgamated into several petitions signed by hundreds of people.

“The message has been given that it’s a ‘failing’ gym that’s not profitable. But, actually, it’s not a failing gym but a thriving community facility,” said Lee Ward, senior relationship management at Badminton England.

He continued, saying: “You aren’t taking a gym away, you’re taking a community hub away.”

Richard Irvine is deputy chair of the steering committee leading the charge on securing the centre’s future. Richard condemned the council’s decision to close it down as “fundamentally wrong”.

He said: “There’s no council recognition or awareness of the fact that it is a sports hall that does many other things, and there’s five of the best badminton courts in the area.”

Badminton players at Kingsdown such as Kat Gover, Richi Panchal and Penny Shears have competed competitively for their age group at either national, European or world tournaments.

Speaking about the proposals for leisure centres in the city, mayor Marvin Rees has said: “Our proposed strategy is based on investing in leisure facilities that are in areas of deprivation, supporting our One City aims to reach priority communities and support people to lead healthier, more active lives so that we can reduce health inequalities and increase activity.

“There is only a limited amount of money available to us, and we need to ensure we are investing in the sites that both meet our strategic aims and are sustainable in the long-term.

“By spending the money now, we can make council leisure provision in Bristol fit for the future.”

Through their partnership, it is the hope of KSC and Badminton England that the centre can become both a thriving hub for community facilities and the sport of badminton side-by-side without council funding.

Giles Dunning, Badminton England’s chief operating officer, pointed to the worrying trend of sports facilities closures in the UK, saying “We are aware that facility availability across the country is a big issue for community sports like badminton at the moment. Since Covid, these facilities have been under pressure making it a key agenda item for us.”

Green Party councillors for the Cotham ward Guy Poultny and Mohamed Makawi have previously stated that the decision to close the sports centre “has been made without the local community or elected councillors for the area having any opportunity to make the case for the council to save Kingsdown Sports Centre”.

Without community asset transfer or private takeover, Kingsdown Sports Centre is set to close in March 2023.

Main photo by Betty Woolerton

Read more: Sports centre could be closed to save council money

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