'Kick in the teeth' - Sports clubs hit out at South Tyneside Council's plans to demolish Brinkburn CIO
Brinkburn CIO-based sports clubs are calling for South Tyneside Council to “reconsider” plans to demolish the site.
Sporting groups based at Brinkburn CIO have expressed their “devastation” at South Tyneside Council’s plans to demolish and redevelop the site.
It means many community organisations and sports team now face uncertainty over where they could be based in just three months time.
‘Reconsider’
Paul Smith, Founder of Boldon Girls and a Trustee of Brinkburn CIO, has called for South Tyneside Council to reconsider the future plans for the site.
He said: “I was devastated to hear the news and I can’t see where South Tyneside Council will be able to accommodate us.
“We’ve had a base here for years and it has allowed us to facilitate so many girls teams.
“You look at things like SOCATOTS or girls who are just starting out in the game, we’ve got a safe space here for them.
“But where would you put that if the centre closes? The Council need to reconsider.”
‘A kick in the teeth’
Tom McManemy, Club Captain for South Shields Rugby, has highlighted that there is a lack of available locations for the club and explained that any move would come with a significant financial cost.
He commented: “As far as we know at the moment, we have nowhere to go because we need access to pitches, changing rooms, shower facilities, parking, and more.
“As well as that, it is going to cost us as a club thousands of pounds to relocate - the amount of gear we have isn’t just stuff that you can put in the back of a car so we need to know if the Council is going to recompensate that.
“We’re a club that has been trying to rebuild and re-establish ourselves so this is a kick in the teeth.
“We’re devastated for all the clubs here at Brinkburn, especially because you see hundreds of people come through here on a daily basis.”
‘Invest in places like this’
Wess Brown, Operational Lead at the Boldon Colliery Athletic Football Foundation, has called for South Tyneside Council to invest in local sporting programmes rather than close venues that host them.
He added: “When you see the amount of people of all ages who come through the door for different sports, closing Brinbkurn will be another big hit towards the community.
“I remember seeing Temple Park thriving in the 1990s and had there been a continuous investment in health, sport and activities for this area, would South Tyneside be a different place to what it is today?
“The Council is trying to plug a financial downfall but in another few years time, they’ll have to find somewhere else to close down to do the same thing again.
“So rather than doing that, why don’t they look to the future and invest in places like this?”
South Tyneside Council wants to hear from community groups who use the Brinkburn, Clegwell or All Saints Community Associations to understand their activities, requirements, support or alternative accommodation they may need.
Groups are encouraged to complete a short form at: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/communitygroups and they can also use the form to request direct contact from a Council officer.