Campaign win as Government brings forward community protection for sports facilities

Emma Foody, Labour and Co-operative MP has warmly welcomed news that the government will be seeking to adopt the measures from her Sport Facilities Community Asset Bill as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which was announced yesterday.

Earlier this year, Ms Foody brought forward the Sport Facilities Community Asset Bill, which would remove the need for community groups to apply for Asset of Community Value (ACV) status through local authorities, granting automatic listing of eligible sports facilities across the country. Asset of Community Value designation gives communities time to mobilise resources for potential ownership.

This would be an important step in providing greater protections for community sport facilities to recognise the role they play in our communities.

Last week, the Labour government brought forward the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which will adopt the change called for by Ms Foody, introducing the Sporting Asset of Community Value protection, and designate local sporting facilities as assets of community value, giving the local community the ability to organise should they be put up for sale and the first right of refusal.

Speaking after the announcement, Ms Foody said:

“Local sports grounds and facilities are at the heart of so many communities. Where people come to play sport, hold community and charity events, holiday clubs and must more.

“So often they provide the glue and a sense of place and community, being the only community buildings in many towns and villages across the country. Volunteers and the community are at the heart of these facilities.

“With the Co-operative Party, I’ve been campaigning on this issue to give communities a greater say and the first right of refusal should these facilities be put up for sale.

“This is a really positive step from the government that will give our communities that extra protection and time to save these vital assets”.