Villagers come out to bat for sports centre

Dunswell Village Institute is used by residents – and the pupils of Dunswell Primary next door.

East Riding Council has come under a barrage of criticism, including from headteacher Paul Johnston, after it proposed closing the school and sending the children to nearby Woodmansey.

A march saw hundreds of people descend on County Hall in Beverley to hand in a 3,000-name petition.

The chairman of the Dunswell Village Institute trustees, Roy Cockerton, said they depended on the school hiring the sports centre, and if it closed, they would have to as well.

The building – which includes a hall used for netball, five-a-side, badminton and tennis as well as village functions – would be sold, with the proceeds going to the Charity Commission.

Mr Cockerton said: “One of the things we built it for was for the school because they had nothing. Without the funding we get from the school we just wouldn’t manage. During school hours we give the school priority when the school is open. We also have samba, bujutsu and a youth club. There is a disabled group that comes on Friday evenings.

“It is amazing what pleasure they get out of it. On Saturday mornings and some Sunday mornings we get up to three girls’ football matches.”

He added Woodmansey had limited sports facilities, and it seemed “ironic” the local education authority was proposing the change when the Government was providing extra funding to increase sport for primary school pupils. The council’s cabinet is due to decide on the proposals next month.

The director of children, family and adult services, Alison Michalska, denied Woodmansey School had limited sports facilities.

Sports field flooding had been a problem, but council engineers were working with others to address this, she said, adding: “Woodmansey School has a very full sports programme, using gym equipment in the school hall, netball and outdoor activities on the playground, dance and aerobics after school and the children are taken to Beverley Leisure Centre for swimming lessons.”