Northgate Sports Centre
Great meeting today with members of Ipswich Jaffa, Orwell Panthers, Ipswich Harriers, and Ipswich athletics club at Northgate Sports Centre, following the news that Suffolk County Council has secured an operator to keep it open for at least the next few years. The next step is to make sure its future is secured long-term, and I’ll be working hard to help make sure that happens.
I wrote to the County Council last week urging them to find a way to keep it open after many of my constituents contacted me worried about the uncertainty around its future. Northgate is used massive numbers of people, including local sports clubs like the Ipswich Harriers, Orwell Panthers, and Ipswich Jaffa running club, as well as judo, bowls clubs, and many others.
It’s owned by the County Council, but Ipswich Borough Council has run the centre for the last 25 years. They decided not to renew their agreement this year, and poor communication from the Council created a lot of uncertainty about its future. Fortunately, I was pleased to see the County Council step in alongside Vivify, which has extensive experience operating over 500 sports facilities across the country, to operate the centre from April for at least the next two years.
There’s still uncertainty about what comes after that, though, and I’ll be working closely with the Council and local clubs to try to find a more long-term solution and to find funding for necessary upgrades, especially for the running track. I’m really keen to make sure Northgate remains open for my constituents for many years to come.