DEADLINE 10:30am Monday 19th January 2025
Every planning application submitted to a local authority must undergo a period of public consultation, applications made to the Leicester City Council are put on a public file and will be available to members of the public and organisations to inspect.
Please click on the link https://planning.leicester.gov.uk/Planning/Comment/20241529 to register your objection.
Selecting your response type as “objection” to the application – not “support”.
The sports centre has been a vital community hub for over 30 years, hosting activities like football, cricket, and wheelchair sports, as well as events promoting diversity and supporting vulnerable groups. It offers free facilities for youth teams and has hosted major events, including international cricket and boxing. With endorsements from figures like Steve Walsh and Chris Pyatt, it plays a key role in local well-being and tackling issues like knife crime. However, a planning application seeks to convert the building into a warehouse, threatening these services. The community is urged to object to ensure the venue’s continued operation and benefits.
Read our response, on behalf of our VALUES Project to object to this application below:
To Whom It May Concern,
On behalf of VALUES, a day centre dedicated to supporting adults with learning disabilities, we are writing to express our strong support for the continued operation of Leicester Sports Centre. This venue is an invaluable resource for our clients, providing a safe and welcoming space for them to access their community, engage in sports, and socialize with their peers.
We use the sports centre several times a week, and it plays a critical role in promoting the physical and mental well-being of our clients. For many of the individuals we support, opportunities to participate in community activities can be limited. Leicester Sports Centre offers a unique environment where they can feel included, develop their confidence, and enjoy meaningful social interactions.
The centre’s accessible facilities and inclusive ethos have allowed us to integrate sports and physical activity into our program. These experiences help our clients build essential life skills, form friendships, and improve their overall quality of life. The loss of this venue would be a devastating blow, not just to VALUES but to the many vulnerable individuals and groups who rely on it for social connection, personal development, and community inclusion.
While alternative venues have been suggested, none provide the same combination of accessibility, versatility, and community focus that Leicester Sports Centre offers. The closure of this facility would leave a significant gap in provisions for people with learning disabilities and other marginalized groups, directly contradicting efforts to build an inclusive and supportive community.
We strongly urge the council to reject the planning application to convert the Leicester Sports Centre into a warehouse. Doing so would protect an essential community asset that has served generations of individuals and continues to provide life-changing opportunities for those who need them most.
Thank you for considering our perspective.
Please click on the link https://planning.leicester.gov.uk/Planning/Comment/20241529 to register your objection by DEADLINE 10:30am Monday 19th January 2025 by entering your details, selecting your response type as “objection” to the application – not “support”.
Please provide comment on why you think that the Centre is not surplus to requirements and what community benefits you think are being delivered. Please click submit and you should received an email confirming that your objection has been received for the application. Please confirm by reply once you have registered your objection.
Please share this link with all those that you think will be affected by and adverse change of use of the building.
Please share this link with all those that you think will be affected by and adverse change of use of the building.
Please call me on 07752157158 to discuss at anytime 7 days a week and I will be happy to talk to you.