Sports Management Issue 1 2012 - Leisure Opportunities

The High Ropes Course has eight
obstacles and hangs in the air
space above the climbing wall
Ben Raemer won the National
Skateboarding Championships
hosted at the XC centre last year
ROGER SHERIDAN DIRECTOR, MML CONSULTING LTD
How did the XC
concept evolve
The idea for XC came
from conversations I had
with Dave Coe, the chief
executive of Dacorum
Sports Trust, about the
lack of relevant sports
provision for young people generally
across the leisure sector but specifically in
the Hemel Hempstead area.
I was initially engaged to undertake a
feasibility study to look at a facility mix,
find an existing building to house this
provision and look at the business case
for providing one.
It was through this process, which involved
wider consultation regarding
young people’s needs, that I engaged with
Youth Connexions Hertfordshire to look at
combining a new building that met the organisation’s
aspirations to provide young
people with a one-stop-shop for information,
advice, guidance and activity.
The feasibility process also confirmed
the drop of in regular activity of young
people within the 13- to 19-year-old age
group and the attraction to that group
of extreme, individual focused activities
such as climbing and skateboarding.
What did you bring to project
I brought together evidence regarding
the lack of provision and activity within
the 13- to 19 years age group to make
the myplace funding application. This
opportunity was introduced to Dacorum
Borough Council, which agreed to provide
us with the land at a peppercorn lease.
We developed the scheme from
scratch, and along with the social and
business case, submitted the myplace
funding application for a full grant of
£5m. The application was successful
and was supplemented with a £250,000
pledge from the sports trust.
What did the design process involve
Before we selected specialist designers,
we visited climbing and bouldering centres
and skateparks across the country for
examples of best practice.
We noticed that out of the few indoor
skateparks in the UK most are based in
converted, low-rent, low-costs facilities.
Our ambition was to provide a high-quality
facility that mirrored the standards set
for local authority leisure centres, so that
visitors could relax in a well-managed,
purpose-built space, rather than a building
conversion.
Visitors can relax in a wellmanaged,
purposed-built space,
rather than a building conversion
The final project offers a clean, modern,
light and airy space with high
ceilings, open-ended walls and scope for
future enhancement/development.
What lessons have you learned
from this project
I have developed a concept model, which
embraces some of the things that we’ve
learned and further refined its design
where applicable.
I’ve evaluated another four development
sites across the UK. But meanwhile,
should local authorities want to replicate
the model in a suitable community,
we have an excellent starting point from
which to begin discussions.
Importantly for local authorities, the
XC model demonstrates that it’s possible
to deliver top-class, safe and well-managed
facilities, that do not require a
revenue surplus.
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