The Department of Education has an exciting blueprint for the redevelopment of Friesland School and to make this happen wants to take back control of the entire campus including Sandiacre Friesland Sports Centre.
The rebuilding programme will ensure a modern educational environment for the 1,300 secondary pupils attending Friesland School – the new development plan will mean that the buildings will be resilient to climate change and more energy efficient, reducing both the schools carbon footprint and operating costs.
The refurbishment work and expansion, including new buildings, will be made possible with funding allocated under the government’s Schools Rebuilding Programme. The academy school, which includes a sixth form, is run by The Two Counties Trust.
Councillors are set to decide on whether to surrender the council’s lease at a meeting of the Council Executive on 5 September, with a report highlighting that the authority has three other sport and leisure facilities, the closest just 2.5 miles away at West Park in Long Eaton. Under the new development scheme Sandiacre Friesland Sports Centre would close with discussions underway for the transfer of the building to the Trust.
Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing at Erewash Borough Council, Councillor Claire Marie Poole said: “Obviously, the pupils and their education must come first – and this huge investment in the school is long overdue. Use of the Friesland Sports Centre has been dropping for some time with far fewer customers through the doors than other centres in the borough. It would seem prudent and better use of taxpayers’ money for the school’s trust to take over the site as part of the government’s schools rebuilding programme.”
Councillors will also be asked to approve a further five-year extension to the leisure operating contract with Parkwood Leisure Limited for its three other leisure centres in the borough. This would see the agreement extended beyond the current ten-year contract, until 30 January 2034, and could see the council negotiate significant savings.
If all the proposed options are all approved - including replacement of the Artificial Turf Pitch at Rutland Sports Park - it would see a combined saving of an estimated £209k per annum until 2029.
The council is committed to supporting people through the cost-of living crisis. Information and advice can be found at erewash.gov.uk.