Reverse the Decision to Demolish Houghton Regis Sports Hall
The Issue
We are calling on all Users of the Houghton Regis Sports Hall as well of the vibrant Houghton Regis community, who are deeply distressed by the news of the Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC) plans to demolish the beloved Houghton Regis Sports Hall, which resides on the Kingsland Site.
This space has provided countless users including residents, being rate payers, their families, and individuals, with innumerable opportunities to stay fit, engage in productive pastimes, and come together as a community. The loss of this community hub will do much more than depriving users access to indoor sports facilities; it threatens to tear apart the social fabric of our tight-knit sporting community.
CBC’s proposed solution, being the Sports Hall at the Houstone School, does not cater for those Users who do not require the whole hall. In addition, the School Sports hall is only available for 35 weeks of the year due to the Hall being used for exams.
What makes this situation even more confounding is the potential solution that seems to have been overlooked. The Houghton Regis Town Council has graciously offered their assistance, proposing that they, along with dedicated local partners, be allowed to manage the old Sports Hall as a Community Asset until CBC manages to build a new Sports Hall on the Kingsland Site. However, this sensible alternative has been outright rejected by CBC without adequate explanation.
The importance of sports for physical and mental health is well-documented, making this an issue not only of community, but of wellness as well (Source: UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). Taking away the Sports Hall, particularly at a time when indoor spaces are coveted due to weather conditions, instigates a downward spiral for the community's health.
In accordance with the principles of transparency and community partnership, we are asking CBC to reverse their decision to demolish the Houghton Regis Sports Hall. Instead, we urge them to re-evaluate the proposal of the Houghton Regis Town Council, to keep this significant asset open and functional, providing an essential service to the residents who fund it. Stand with us and sign the petition to save the Houghton Regis Sports Hall.
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The Issue
We are calling on all Users of the Houghton Regis Sports Hall as well of the vibrant Houghton Regis community, who are deeply distressed by the news of the Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC) plans to demolish the beloved Houghton Regis Sports Hall, which resides on the Kingsland Site.
This space has provided countless users including residents, being rate payers, their families, and individuals, with innumerable opportunities to stay fit, engage in productive pastimes, and come together as a community. The loss of this community hub will do much more than depriving users access to indoor sports facilities; it threatens to tear apart the social fabric of our tight-knit sporting community.
CBC’s proposed solution, being the Sports Hall at the Houstone School, does not cater for those Users who do not require the whole hall. In addition, the School Sports hall is only available for 35 weeks of the year due to the Hall being used for exams.
What makes this situation even more confounding is the potential solution that seems to have been overlooked. The Houghton Regis Town Council has graciously offered their assistance, proposing that they, along with dedicated local partners, be allowed to manage the old Sports Hall as a Community Asset until CBC manages to build a new Sports Hall on the Kingsland Site. However, this sensible alternative has been outright rejected by CBC without adequate explanation.
The importance of sports for physical and mental health is well-documented, making this an issue not only of community, but of wellness as well (Source: UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). Taking away the Sports Hall, particularly at a time when indoor spaces are coveted due to weather conditions, instigates a downward spiral for the community's health.
In accordance with the principles of transparency and community partnership, we are asking CBC to reverse their decision to demolish the Houghton Regis Sports Hall. Instead, we urge them to re-evaluate the proposal of the Houghton Regis Town Council, to keep this significant asset open and functional, providing an essential service to the residents who fund it. Stand with us and sign the petition to save the Houghton Regis Sports Hall.
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Petition created on 17 April 2025