Yeovil athletics arena under threat as council proposes funding cut

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition to protect sports facilities at Yeovil Recreation Centre.

The athletics arena, hockey and football pitches are under threat as Somerset Council tries to balance its books and avoid bankruptcy.

Geoff Cole, the chair of the Yeovil Olympiads Athletics Club, said he is "gutted" by the announcement.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts said government did not fund councils to provide these services.

The local authority hopes other bodies or local councils will step in to run and fund the centre.

In November, Somerset Council warned that it was facing an £87m budget deficit for the next financial year.

Mr Cole said that tracks are "disappearing" all over the country.

"In an Olympic year it's very sad to think that the grassroots of these sports would be affected by the loss of these facilities," he said, "because ultimately, it's places like this where the next Olympians come from."

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, lead member for communities at Somerset Council, said: "Some of these savings that have been brought forward, they are unpalatable.

"This isn't the reason I got into politics. Unfortunately, the government does not fund local government to provide these services."

A public consultation is taking place ahead of the final council budget meeting on 20 February.

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