THE DERBY GRIPE - What's happening in Derby today

VELODROME COSTS RISE BY Ł2M
The size and cost of Derby's multi-use sports centre plans for Pride Park have already risen by nearly Ł2 million over its original budget.

The city council had planned to spend Ł20 million on the centre, with a velodrome at its core on the park and ride site. However, the authority said the plans had now expanded to include a health and well-being centre and community rooms.

It means the footprint has increased by a third and the cost has gone up to Ł21.9 million. It is about to begin the process for appointing a contractor to begin work on site.

The successful firm is expected to be chosen by April and work could then start on the arena in the summer to coincide with the Olympic games in London.

The council is also preparing to find a design team to work on the other half of its leisure strategy, which will be the creation of an Olympic-sized swimming pool at Riverlights.

Councillor Hilary Jones, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said, "The leisure strategy proposes the most exciting and important changes to the provision of leisure in Derby in the last 40 years."

She went on, "Once complete, the new 50m swimming pool and iconic arena will provide people in Derby with facilities that are at the forefront of the country's finest sporting venues."

She added, "This is absolutely the right time to build. It will help boost the economy of the city, attract world class business, provide new jobs, build on the back of the Olympics and focus on sport and active lifestyles the Games will bring." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Feb/12)

The future of Derby's planned cycling venue has been put in doubt after control of the council changed. The Ł28m velodrome had been developed by the city's Conservative/Lib Dem coalition administration, which lost control at the local elections.

The Conservative leader of the council had been expected to sign the deal before leaving office but he has now said this will not happen. Labour, which had opposed the plan, has now ordered a report into its benefits.

The 5,000-seat centre, which would be able to host other sports, has planning permission for land next to Pride Park stadium. It had been hoped it would open early in 2014, with bookings already being taken.

Outgoing Conservative council leader, Philip Hickson, said, "I would like to see it signed as soon as possible but within two days of Labour leader Paul Bayliss assuming the leadership of the city council, I think it would be morally questionable for me to sign it off and give them the let out of not making the decision to build the arena."

He added, "I think they must now, after all the public pronouncements they have made about it, make a decision one way or the other." Labour's cabinet member for leisure and culture, Martin Repton, said, "We genuinely have not made a decision to cancel it at this stage. It is important when making a decision of this magnitude that we do so in an informed way and we take on board the opinions of everyone in the Labour group and people in the city." (Source: BBC News, May/12)