COUNCIL funding could keep some sports facilities at St Osmund’s School, Dorchester open to the public.

The St Osmund’s Community Sports Centre Trust ceased trading at the end of January – but financial support is now being sought to keep the tennis and badminton facilities available for club use.

West Dorset District and Dorchester Town Council officers have been holding talks with representatives from the school governors in the hope of providing limited access to the main sports hall for organised groups, including badminton, short tennis and cricket nets.

Dorchester town council clerk Adrian Stuart says that, subject to West Dorset District also making a grant available, the town council will offer £5,000 to the school to put a transition plan in place.

“The School Governors as a whole have not yet considered the issue but have now been made aware that they have financial support from the Town Council, and hopefully from the District Council, if they feel able to offer the Sports Hall and Tennis Courts for use by organised community groups,” said Mr Stuart.

Accommodating casual, pay-and-play access for individual members of the public is said not be feasible because of security implications.

District councillors will discuss the proposal at a strategy meeting on February 7th when they will be asked to approve a £15,000 grant to the school to retain community access to some of the sports facilities.

The school is proposing that, as a minimum, it can accommodate access to the sports centre on weekday evenings from 5pm to 9pm. Once a proper booking system is established, the school will consider allowing weekend hires.

+ The St Osmund’s Community Sports Centre Trust has operated sports facilities at St Osmund’s Middle School for almost 20 years. Its facilities, built with a grant from Sport England of over £1 million and some assistance from the district council, are mainly owned by the diocese and comprise a sports hall, fitness suite, tennis courts and outdoor pitches.

With a worsening financial position, the Trust decided to cease operating at the end of January 2019 when the sports facilities reverted to the full control of the School.