Petition to halt the proposed closure of the Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena nears 15,000 signatures after Somerset Council contemplate locking the gates
An athletics track, described by those who use it as a “jewel in the crown”, could be closed by Somerset Council as they attempt to find £100m in savings to prevent being effectively bankrupt.
The Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena, named after the Yeovil Olympiads Athletic Club founder, would save the unitary authority just £165k in costs over two years.
The track was established in 1972 and is still home to a myriad of clubs who use the facilities, ranging from Yeovil Olympiads and Dorchester Athletics Club to Yeovil Town Road Runners and Running For Time RC.
It also has a rich history. In 1981 and 1988, the Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena hosted the English Schools Track & Field Championships. In the latter, a 16-year-old Denise Lewis claimed intermediate long jump gold with a leap of 5.97m.
No surprise then that she is one of a number of athletes who have shared the petition, which is now rocketing towards 15,000 signatures.
Chairman of Yeovil Olympiads, Geoff Cole, set the petition up immediately after the council contacted him out of the blue on January 5.
Hurdles at the Bill Whistlecroft Athletics Arena (Martin Edwards)
It’s since been shared and commented on by everyone from UK CEO Jack Buckner and Lewis, to Kath Merry and Jenny Meadows, to name just a few.
Other athletics clubs across the UK have also spread the message far and wide.
Cole tells AW that he never dreamt of such a powerful response, hopes the council will listen and that he is also willing to engage with them.
“The whole reason for starting the petition was because Somerset Council are so detached from knowing what they’ve actually got here,” Cole says. Now we’ve got 10,000+ people have also supported this.
“It’s been shared by past and present Olympians. It was set-up to raise awareness and it’s achieved that objective. I’m so happy it’s got these sort of numbers but I’m not surprised given how the arena is seen nationally.
“We’re in an Olympic year. If we lose facilities like this, where do our future Olympians come from? You’ve lost your grassroots. Everybody enjoys celebrating the success of Super Saturday in 2012 but without facilities like we have in Yeovil that doesn’t happen. There’s no legacy without it.”
Did Cole get prior warning from Somerset Council, that Yeovil…
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