Joint Schools Council Meeting

On 16 October students from Grove school joined representatives from Adderley, Cheswardine, Hinstock, Hodnet, Market Drayton Infants, Market Drayton Junior School, Norton-in-Hales, Stoke-on-Tern and Woore Schools to discuss sporting facilities in Market Drayton.

 The meeting was organised by Grove College students and provided a chance for the young students to complete questionnaires and discuss the sports they play, the facilities they use and what they would like to be available.

 The meeting was chaired by Gareth Hughes and the following report about the meeting was written by Niall Evans.  Both are Grove College students and Sports Leaders.

 Students from Grove School and primary schools in the Market Drayton area joined together last week to revisit the issues relating to sports facilities in the area.  It was felt that there was a real need for action to install a multi sport facility on Grove’s illustrious sports fields.

 According to councillor David Minnery plans for the multi-million pound scheme were shelved in 2008 after difficulties in obtaining the ‘go-ahead’ because the ever-popular Maurice Chandler Sports Centre was within a ten mile radius of Market Drayton’s town centre.  This difficulty, it seems, can now be overcome after the merge of the area councils into one concrete Shropshire council.  The amalgamation sees a change in funding and a focus on education for these funds to be spent. This change could be a major benefit to the town, as the sports facilities could be used for both school students of all ages and the general community.  Now the spotlight is in education, the ten-mile rule need not apply.

 The meeting which took place in Grove College, was chaired by Gareth Hughes, a Grove College student who outlined the need for improved sports facilities in Market Drayton and compared the town to similar sized towns Bridgenorth and Whitchurch, both of which have stunning sports facilities.  A comparison was also made with Cheshire where the towns of Congleton, Alsager & Sandbach are in close proximity and all have excellent leisure centres.  The young people, who ranged from 6 to 18 years old, complained at the lack of facility in the town and the loss of sporting opportunity in the town due to travelling issues for facilities.  Home games for their hockey and 5-a-side football games are often played at a neutral venue.  Passionate arguments also stemmed from the teachers who stated that the children’s early sporting education was being disrupted due to bad weather in the winter and a shortage of space in the school halls and on concreted areas.

 The students were gathered into groups and asked to discuss how facilities could be improved.  This led into discussions as to who would run the facilities and where would they be.  Sensible suggestions arose; including an agreement that the Grove School would be the best location due to its vast grounds and that jobs could be created for the unemployed in the town.

 Also in attendance was David Minnery of Shropshire council, who offered his support stating a town like Market Drayton needed a facility ‘to be proud of’, Steve Glover from the Town Council, Martin Powell and Louise Fowler from the police and representatives from extended services at Shropshire county council.  Following the meeting the college students and school students hope to take this achievable project to Shropshire council to try to see the urgency of the situation and get them on the side of the young students so that they can begin to start the process that could provide a promising and exciting sporting venture for the town’s budding sporting community.