Sporty MP Re-opens Athletics Track

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Jul 2006

Julia Goldsworthy and Cornish children reopen Carn Brea Sports track

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy officially re-opened the Royal Duchy of Cornwall Athletics Track on Friday after a major refurbishment.

The new track, the only eight-lane facility in Cornwall, has had a new running surface installed to maintain its status as a track suitable for national and county competitions.

After meeting some of the new track's first users, children from schools across Cornwall, Julia commented:

"I was delighted to be invited to re-open the new race track. Carn Brea Leisure Centre has for a long time offered a great service to the local community and the new race track will ensure that Cornwall's athletes will have a state of the art facility on which to train."

In total, this large scale project cost £110,000 and was only made possible after a sizeable contribution from Carn Brea Leisure Centre Trust was matched by an award of £50,000 from Sport England's Community Athletics Refurbishment Programme (CARP) and additional partnership funding from both Kerrier District Council, and Cory Environmental Trust.

Jim Clarke, Sport England regional director in the South West comments: "Sport England's funding through the CARP reflects our commitment to investing in athletics at all levels. It is my hope that the facilities here will encourage more people in the region involved in grassroots and school athletics, as well as providing better facilities for existing clubs.

"We want to help nurture and develop sporting talent in the region, and with help of our partners and the Cornwall Sports Partnership, I'm confident that we can produce world-class athletes, which I hope will be on show at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Alex Clifton, Centre Manager at Carn Brea Leisure Centre said "This project demonstrates the importance of partnership working to local communities; I am delighted we have secured the future of the track for our community users and Cornwall's athletes".