Dacorum Sports Trust to open extreme sports centre
by Tom Walker | 08 Sep 2010
Dacorum Sports Trust is on schedule to open a new extreme sports centre at the Sportspace leisure centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire next year.
The centre, which has secured £5m worth of government funding, will include a 60m x 15m indoor climbing area - supplied by UK-based Entre-Prises - and one of the largest indoor, combined timber and concrete skate parks in the UK.
Dacorum has appointed GB Building Solutions to build the centre, which will also include an indoor caving area, an extensive high ropes course and music recording studios.
A teen-focused health centre, counselling rooms, internet access, café and an advice & support centre - together with office space for youth workers, advisers and trainers - will also be provided to create a "one-stop facility" for young people.
Dacorum Sports Trust (DST) will manage the facility and work in partnership with Youth Connexions.
Building work will begin in autumn 2010 with an expected opening date of summer 2011.
The funding for the project has come from the government's 'Myplace' programme which creates safe places for young people to go, and administered by the Big Lottery fund.
Martin Smout, chair and chief executive of GB Building Solutions said the building work is expected to last 39 weeks.
"GB has built numerous sports facilities over the past five years, but this one really is in a class of its own in terms of what it will provide for young people," he added.
"Working closely with Sportspace, Dacorum Sports Trust we will create work experience and learning opportunities for young people classified by the Government as 'NEET's', young people currently 'Not in Education, Employment or Training'.
"With the largest indoor skatepark and one of the largest indoor climbing walls, combined with performance and support facilities, this centre will be unrivalled in the UK."
Dacorum Sports Trust is on schedule to open a new extreme sports centre at the Sportspace leisure centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire next year. The centre, which has secured £5m worth of government funding, will include a 60m x 15m indoor climbing area - supplied by UK-based Entre-Prises - and one of the largest indoor, combined timber and concrete skate parks in the UK. Dacorum has appointed GB Building Solutions
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