A COUNCILLOR is calling for top level talks on the future of sports provision at West Craven High School after the academy running the Barnoldswick school said it would stop using the adjacent sports centre at the end of this school year.

From September, West Craven High School took on academy status and it is now run by Pendle Education Trust (PET); and at a recent meeting of West Craven Area Committee it was revealed that dual use agreement between the school and Pendle Leisure Trust (PLT) over use of the West Craven Sports Centre sports hall would terminate after this school year.

“Twenty five years ago, we fought hard to build the sports hall at the West Craven Sports Centre which has provided excellent indoor sports facilities for the high school,” said West Craven county councillor David Whipp. “Now the new academy is saying they’ll turn the clock back a quarter of century and go back to the wholly inadequate gym in the school.

“This is an alarming development that jeopardises sport at the school as well as the financial viability of the sports centre itself. The advent of the academy has precipitated this avoidable crisis in sports provision.

“Going back to the 1990s, we campaigned for years to get a sports hall and learner pool at what was then just a swimming pool. After a lot of fundraising we managed to get it built with the benefit of one of the first ever National Lottery grants.

“Although the school couldn’t put any capital investment into the development, they agreed to pay an amount every year towards the running costs for their use of the building.

“The school contribution has been over £40,000, but now the new academy has offered only £10,000 a year and is due to quit the sports centre after this school year. This is a massive blow for pupils at the school and also undermines the future viability of the sports centre itself.

“The issue has been discussed at West Craven Area Committee and now I’ve tabled a resolution for the next full council meeting calling for top level talks to resolve this issue.

“I’m hoping we can get some sense on this. It’s not good enough to accept West Craven’s school sports provision going back to the dark ages.”

A Pendle Education Trust spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns about Pendle Leisure Trust ceasing its contract with West Craven Academy following ongoing negotiations.

“Ensuring our students get the best possible education they can is an absolute priority for West Craven, and as such every decision we make has their interests at heart.

“We have decided that for the amount of time our students spent at the facilities, maintaining a contract with PLT is not a financially viable solution.

“Our facilities, including a multi-use games area, will not jeopardise sport at West Craven, and we will continue to provide a stimulating and challenging curriculum in the school sports hall.

“We are keen to see all of PET’s academies developing their own resources, and this includes West Craven’s sports facilities.”