By Mal Butler
Talks involving entrepreneur, John Caulcutt, and Yarmouth Town Council are under way in a bid to save the local Sports Foundation building, which is under threat.
As previously reported, the building, on Tennyson Road is the West Wight’s main badminton venue and hosts Freshwater Badminton Club adults and youth teams, The over-70s IW Mixed County team and the Tuesday Oldies.
It has been on the site for around 100 years, but after the Vets Surgery, which was also situated there, moved away, the hall on its own is no longer viable and is making a loss of more than £4,000 per year.
Entrepreneur John, a prolific charity fundraiser, is now involved after a meeting with town councillor, Tom Cowley. John said: “I am happy to get involved with anything which preserves the tradition of the town, and the sports hall is part of that tradition. It’s tucked away and some people don’t even know it’s there, but it’s been there all my life.
“We have to try and pull together and help to keep it operational and, if we can, we will. We must keep our town together and not let our infrastructure fall by the wayside.”
Cllr Cowley added: “It’s a facility we want to retain for the community and offers a high sports facility.
“One of the badminton players there, Jack Isaacs, has been scouted for the GB Paralympics team and his family have been involved in the sport for generations. There are several routes we can follow but, as a town, we have lost our school, and we can’t afford to lose another asset.”
Yarmouth Sports Foundation treasurer, Tim Honour, who has been involved with the club for 50 years, welcomed the news and said: “We’ve had a meeting and there are several options on the table from taking over the lease to buying the freehold or rebuilding on the site.
“The main issue comes down to the funding and whether it is able to sustain itself. We are talking and trying to do something and we will keep battling away.”
Isle of Wight Observer