£1.6 million leisure centre for Furze Platt gets the green light

The community leisure facility in Furze Platt Road will include a floodlit all-weather pitch, multi-use play area, cricket wicket, sports field drainage, car parking and a small cafe.

It will be used by Furze Platt Senior School and open to the public outside of school hours.

The scheme was approved by the Royal Borough’s cabinet at Windsor Guildhall last night.

Similar centres have already been created at Cox Green School in Highfield Lane and Charters School in Sunningdale.

Councillor Eileen Quick (Con, Clewer East), who is the council’s member for leisure and libraries, pointed to a recent report which found Furze Platt has the ‘lowest level of activity in the borough.’

A leisure centre, she says, will improve the fitness of and well-being of people living there.

Cllr Christine Bateson (Con, Sunningdale), who is a governor at Charters School and a trustee of its leisure centre, said the news is ‘win win’ for Furze Platt, adding it is an ‘excellent project’.

Conservative Furze Platt councillor Hari Sharma spoke at the meeting.

He explained that Furze Platt has a ‘significant pocket of poor health’.

Cllr Sharma said the ward has had anti-social behaviour problems, adding police had suggested providing sports facilities for younger people as a solution.

He said: “This facility will enhance the whole area.  It’s terrific news for Furze Platt residents, which will improve and enhance sport and leisure facilities in this area.”

The project will be funded with £950,000 of section 106 developer contributions, £200,000 from the school and £400,000 of council money.

A £50,000 grant has also been made available to pay for all-weather pitch drainage.

The cabinet also voted to continue looking into installing a ‘sculpture trail’ in Maidenhead’s Riverside.