Plans unveiled for new sports hub at school in Wellingborough

Wrenn Academy in Wellingborough wants to build a sports hall on land next to its London Road site.

The idea is to provide a two-storey sports centre which would include four badminton courts, two half basketball courts, a rehabilitation suite, male and female changing rooms with disabled access, toilets and a reception area.

It would also have a sports hall, function room, bar and cafe facilities and a gym.

One of the hub’s specific aims would be to provide for disabled sports and rehabilitation for service personnel.

Numerous groups and organisations in the town were invited to hear about the plans during an event at the school last Friday, including the Rotary Club, Inner Wheel, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and various sports groups.

Wellingborough’s deputy mayor Cllr Barry Graves also went along to take a look, and he said the scheme had his backing.

The event was organised by 14 members of the sixth form as part of their A-level business course.

Among them was Sophia Patel and Miyuki Yamagata from Year 13.

Sophia said it would be great to offer a facility like this to veterans in the area, and she added: “I think it will inspire kids to look up to them and be like them.”

The school’s vice principal Daniel Baxby said: “This is not a school facility from 9am to 3pm, this is going to be after hours too.

“We have put a design together of what we think is needed and then we will work with the local disability groups to see what they think.”

Mr Baxby said it would be great to have a sports hub which could be used by the community as well as the school, and it would see land which has been unused for 10 years on a key route into the town brought back into use.

A number of schools in the area have already shown an interest in using the facilities if they get the go-ahead.

Mr Baxby added: “If there’s any business or organisation that is interested, we would be more than happy to go out and talk to them.”

It is estimated that the new sports hub would cost £300,000 a year for 35 years, which includes the cost of the land and building work.

The school is looking for help and support to fund the building and resourcing of the project, including funding for the internal fitting out of the sports hub.

Anyone interested in finding out more can call the school on 01933 222039 or send an email to smallett@wrenn-academy.net.