11 December 2009
Sports facility inquiry launched
An independent national inquiry has been launched to chart the standard and range of the UK's sports facilities.
The Facilities Inquiry will be undertaken by a panel, chaired by sports broadcaster John Inverdale, with administrative support from the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR).
The inquiry will take evidence from a range of people and organisations, including members of health clubs and grassroots sports clubs as well as users of parks, pitches and waterways.
The survey hopes to chart whether the country has enough sport and leisure facilities, what condition they are in and how easily people can access them.
The inquiry has received the support of all three main political parties in England and will produce a report and a range of recommendations based on its findings. The panel is scheduled to report in April 2010.
Panel chair, John Inverdale, said: "I want this inquiry to get into the nitty-gritty of the UK's facility stock - and that's something we haven't done for a while. We don't really understand enough about what people's expectations are or what they want when it comes to doing sport.
"The Facilities Inquiry will really get to the bottom of those issues and come up with recommendations which will help get more people more active.
"We all want to see more people leading more active lifestyles, so it makes sense to make sure we're doing the right thing when it comes to providing and maintaining facilities. The Facilities Inquiry will help us do just that."
Contact details
http://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/LOemail/wider_newsdetail1.cfm?codeID=164503&CFID=19018431&CFTOKEN=68678863
Notes to editors