Ennis’s stadium under threat of bulldozer as £50m cuts sought

Sheffield Council said the taxpayer currently subsidises the Don Valley Stadium, in the Attercliffe area of the city, to the tune of £700,000 a year, a situation which may not be sustainable because the authority must save £50m in the next financial year following central Government cutbacks.

Leading councillors said the closure idea was one of “hundreds” which had been drawn up by the authority’s accountants in a bid to find the required cash, and added that it was only a proposal at present and may not happen all if alternatives can be found.

However, they said that a second council-owned venue, the Woodbourn Road stadium, which is less than a mile away, offered the same standard of facilities, but costs just £70,000 a year to maintain, a tenth of the current bill for Don Valley Stadium.

Ennis’s coach Toni Minichiello said even if the stadium were pulled down, she would not stop training in the city, and added that Sheffield’s English Institute for Sport, which is next door to Don Valley, and other facilities would be used for her training instead.

But he said both he and Ennis would be disappointed if the stadium were to disappear, adding: “We use Don Valley regularly on Sunday and Monday and it forms a substantial part of our training.

“It’s shocking that they are talking about demolishing it and it would make things very difficult for us, but, like anything, you find a way. Jess will not leave Sheffield.

“The sad thing is it destroys any kind of legacy and no one else like Jess will be able to come through there.”

Ennis already travels to Leeds for javelin training under Mick Hill, although that involves university facilities which may not always be available, while other options include Doncaster and Rotherham.

Sheffield Council has already had to save £140m over the last two years, and when the 2013/14 cuts of £50m was announced, Labour council leader Julie Dore warned that almost every council service would be “up for discussion”.

Yesterday the authority’s finance spokesman Coun Bryan Lodge said: “These are extraordinarily difficult times and we have said that we will have to look at tough budget options because of the devastating Government cuts to public spending and local government.

“We have said all along that we have to consider all options and Don Valley Stadium is one of the bigger options on the table.

“I want to make it clear that no decisions have been made and when we are in a position to confirm our spending decisions we will do so.”

The stadium was opened in 1991 for the ill-fated World 
Student Games which has left Sheffield taxpayers with estimated debts of around £658m 
which will not be paid off until 2024.

The stadium was used as a temporary home by Rotherham United Football Club for four seasons between 2008 and 2012, and has staged concerts by superstars such as U2, Michael Jackson, Arctic Monkeys and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

But, despite being regarded as the best purpose-built athletics stadium outside London, the 25,000 capacity the international standard track is not used for big competitions.

In addition, the ageing facilities require a massive upgrade, with the bill for new seats, lighting, wiring and roof estimated at £1.6m with work required next year.

Mike Corden, chairman of City of Sheffield Athletics Club, whose athletes use the stadium said: “I would be fighting tooth and nail to make sure we keep a top-class facility open so we can develop the Jess Ennis of the future.

“I would hope the council, if they do ultimately close this place down, will offer us a first class alternative. It doesn’t come as a great surprise because it’s not really been used as a major athletics stadium for big events for a number of years.”