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Multi-million pound windfall for Devon sports facilities
Devon County Council is expected to give final approval for a £10.7m cash boost aimed at improving sports facilities across the county this week.
Part of the funds, generated from the £48m sale of Exeter Airport, are earmarked for the first phase of the development of a £20m dual-use centre for sporting excellence. The centre is expected to feature a swimming pool, a 12-court sports hall with an adjacent gymnastics centre, an indoor bowling facility, a fitness suite and a climbing zone. There will also be coaching and meeting rooms. Outdoor facilities include an athletics track, a cricket pitch, a velodrome and BMX track as well as an artificial turf football and hockey pitch.
Devon County Council's deputy leader and executive councillor for children's services, John Smith, said: "While it is about sporting excellence, it is also about achievement for all and the facilities we envisage would be open to the whole community." The centre will also be used by nearby Teign School, which is currently without sports facilities A further £500,000 could be allocated to help fund the construction of an outdoor velodrome, which British Cycling has also provisionally provided £500,000 towards. Councillors are also being asked to release £2.5m for the development of a sports centre for Teignmouth Community College and £2.7m to help fund the development of a water sports and activity centre at Haven Banks in Exeter, which has stalled due to a lack of investment.
The rest of the money will be injected into improving education programmes and facilities. Smith added: "I am particularly pleased to see that we are fulfilling our pledge to provide modern sports facilities for the students of Teign School and Teignmouth Community College.
"We are also looking to capitalise on the 2012 London Olympics with what could be a cycling facility of national significance at Kingsteignton and a major watersports centre in Exeter. "I will be asking the Executive Committee on Thursday to back these projects and welcome the contribution the investment - particularly into business development - will make in Devon in these troubled economic times."
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