November 8, 2018 11.23 am This story is over 64 months old

£300k investment for Louth sports facilities

The local hockey club is in line for a £50k loan
The sports facilities on London Road, Louth.

Louth Hockey Club could be set to receive a £50,000 20-year loan from East Lindsey District Council as part of up to £300,000 investment in sports facilities in the town.

Leaders at the authority want to replace the astroturf and create a new 3G football facility on a site down London Road as part of a bid to reduce the costs of running it.

A report before the authority next Thursday says the cost of running the facility for 2018/19 is estimated to be around £75,000.

It says the astroturf, which is used by Louth’s Cricket, Old Boys Football and Hockey Clubs, is at the end of its 20-year life and brings in an income of £23,520.

It says: “This investment would provide an improved leisure offer within East Lindsey whilst supporting the Council’s longer term aspiration of eliminating the annual subsidy required for running the London Road facility.

“The three primary sports clubs have shown support for the capital investment proposed.

In addition all three clubs have given their commitment to working in partnership to meet the Councils aspiration of reducing/eliminating the public sector subsidy required to operate the London Road facility.

“The portfolio holder welcomes this support from the clubs and would like to see this work commence immediately and alongside the capital investment proposals.”

Current estimates in the report for the cost of surfacing and the loan to the hockey club is up to £740,000 but would seek funding from organisations such as the England Hockey Foundation and the Football Foundation.

The report says ELDC would also continue to work with Magna Vitae, which it works in partnership with, would also look at ways of reducing costs – potentially including higher fees, working with the educational sector and through events.

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