Trevor Lodge, our Club former Chairman, had an excellent letter published yesterday on page 16 of the Edinburgh Evening News. The full transcript of the letter is reproduced below:
The Editor,
Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News
21 August 2012
As Team GB rides the crest of the Olympic wave, attention now turns to delivering “the legacy” - identifying and developing potential stars, improving facilities and maximising opportunities for all to participate in sport at grass root level. That, at least, is the mantra of politicians and sport governing bodies basking in the reflected glory of our athletes.
One can understand, then, why some of this rhetoric may ring a little hollow as far as City of Edinburgh Basketball Club is concerned. The Club, based at Portobello High School, has been campaigning for the past 5 years for the plans of the proposed new Portobello HS to replicate the games hall and gymnasium facilities at the existing school. Unfortunately, the plans provide for a smaller gymnasium that will not accommodate a basketball court. This means that the most successful basketball club in the country faces the choice of either reducing its operations or seeking alternative additional facilities to sustain its 14 teams.
The Club has been told by Edinburgh Council officials that the cost of increasing the size of the proposed gymnasium by 6.9 metres to accommodate a basketball court is £230,000. Further, that this cannot be funded within the overall scope of the project and would have to be met by the Club itself – both ludicrous propositions.
If ever there was an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to the Olympic legacy, this is surely it. Edinburgh Council must revisit their short-sighted decision.
Sports clubs desperately need more facilities, not less. And they need to be affordable. The cost of hiring limited school and community indoor sports facilities is a huge pressure on sports club budgets. It is a critical factor in club development and in making sport accessible for all. City of Edinburgh Basketball Club has experienced a 218% increase in local authority let charges in the past 5 years. Last year alone the Club spent £23,000 on sports hall let charges. If these continue on their current trajectory many clubs will find them prohibitively expensive to operate and in consequence the social, health and other benefits which are supposedly at the heart of government policy will suffer.
One further point. City of Edinburgh Basketball Club is the only Scottish club to have produced a member of the 2012 GB Olympic Women’s Basketball Team. Rose Anderson, who first took to the court with City of Edinburgh Kool Kats, is the first Scot (male or female) ever to play basketball in the Olympics.
The Club is proud to have played its part. It is now time for Edinburgh Council to play theirs.
Trevor Lodge
Formerly Chairman, City of Edinburgh Basketball Club
The edited and published version of the letter can also be viewed here.
If you agree with Trevor and want to take some action then why not get in touch with Gillian Tee, Director of Children and Families and let her know your thoughts.
