7:30am Wednesday 24th December 2008
By Scott McPherson
A new £250,000 indoor sports centre could be open in Chippenham as soon as May thanks to a £125,000 grant from Sports England.
The new air hall, which will be based at the Chippenham Sports Club on Bristol Road, will be 38 metres square and ten metres high.
The news is twinged with sadness as the club chairman Tim Waycott, who was the driving force behind the plans, died after losing a two-week battle with cancer just days before the final decision on the grant was made.
Vice chairman Bob Corke said: “The decision has given us a real reason to celebrate just before Christmas.
“The club’s trustees gave their OK to the plans last week and the next step is to hold an extraordinary general meeting with the members on January 7.
“Judging by the feedback I was given at Tim’s funeral on Friday I don’t anticipate there being a problem though.
“The hockey team don’t have anywhere to train and are crying out for this, the tennis players too.
“A lot of major clubs around the country have places like this to train in all weathers and thanks to Tim hopefully we can join that list.
“He did so much for this club in his 12 years as chairman and this really is testament to him and his hard work.”
Over £97,000 has already been promised by North Wiltshire District Council, which has granted planning permission.
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