During this week’s Business Questions to the Leader of the House, Jonathan advocated once again for the restoration and reopening of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and championed the hard work undertaken by Newcastle Borough Council and Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group.
Reopening the sports centre was a key campaign pledge of Jonathan’s and he has continued to work hard both in Parliament and in Stoke to ensure that everything is being done to see this valuable community asset back in action.
Jonathan has written to the relevant Minister urging action and Government funding where possible and looks forward to the response.
In the Commons chamber yesterday, 12th March 2020, Jonathan put the following question to the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg:
“Sadly, 63% of people in Kidsgrove are no longer physically active since Labour’s closure of Kidsgrove Sports Centre. Will my right hon. Friend congratulate Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group and the Conservative-led Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council on having found a long-term plan to refurbish and reuse this important community asset? Will he set out the Government’s plan to use local sports centres as part of a long-term plan to promote healthy lifestyles?”
To which, the Leader of the House responded:
“I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue and congratulate all those involved from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group on their excellent work. Places such as the Kidsgrove Sports Centre are vital in helping local communities to come together, be more active and live healthy lives. The Government’s Sporting Future strategy emphasises the important role that facilities play in encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to get more active. Through Sport England, from 2017 to 2021 we are spending more than £120 million on grassroots facilities, to make sure that everyone, regardless of where they live, is able to access high-quality sports facilities. It is levelling up for sports facilities.”