YEOVIL NEWS: Crucial meeting over future of Westland Leisure Complex

THE future of the Westland Sports Cricket Club - along with many other user-groups - could well be decided this evening (Tuesday, October 13, 2015) when a decision is made about whether South Somerset District Council should look to take over the running of the Westland Leisure Complex in Yeovil.

The full council meets this evening in a 6.30pm meeting at The Gateway Centre in Addlewell Lane.

It is expected that a large number of people who use the complex – including bowls players, dancers, table tennis players and allotment holders – will have their say in support of the council’s proposals to take over the management of the facilities.

A large contingent from the Westland Sports CC will also be at the meeting hoping that the council agrees that it should look to take on the complex.

The cricket club has enjoyed its most successful season ever with three championship titles won by its three senior teams, plus a place in the final of a T20 competition at the County Ground in Taunton.

But it is expected that the club will look to appeal to councillors on not what it has achieved this season, but what it could achieve in the future with a flourishing youth section.

The loss of the cricket facilities at Westland would mean there being none whatsoever in the town which would be a disaster for the development of young players in the future.

The club held its annual youth presentation last month and there was a fantastic turnout from young players and their families - as our photos here show.

The demise of the Westland Leisure Complex would lead to the demise of Westland Sports CC, as we know it today, and with it a detrimental impact on youth cricket in Yeovil – the town which once nurtured the cricketing brilliance of Sir Ian Botham as a child.

Cricket club chairman Rob Fox has appealed to members to turn out in force and wear their shirts with pride to ensure a big visual image of support.

The council’s District Executive has already agreed to push ahead with proposals to take on a 30-year lease of the complex from owners AgustaWestland.

The complex was closed at the end of September 2015 and is now waiting to find out what will happen to it in the future.

One big stumbling block could be that some councillors may not want to take on the financial responsibility – it is a massive project including a 30-year £1.8-million loan to help fund an overall £2.7-million refurbishment project of the sports facilities and conference and entertainment complex.

Although the District Executive has supported the proposals – it is now down to whether those members will be able to persuade the majority of the council as a whole to follow suit.

PHOTOS: All taken during Westland Sports Cricket Club's youth presentation awards evening at the end of August.

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