COUNCILLORS are hoping to launch the borough's sports and recreation strategy earlier than they had originally planned.

Moves to bring forward the start date were announced during a sports and recreation strategy sub-committee meeting at Bury Town Hall on Monday.

The strategy, designed to provide the best possible sports and recreation service to Bury residents and visitors to the town, could now be rubber-stamped at a full council meeting next month.

Originally it had been expected that details would not be finalised until May.

The draft document, outlining strategy details, is almost complete. It has been compiled from questionnaires returned to the council by sports and recreation clubs, church halls secondary and primary schools, community organisations and also non-users.

The council and its partners have addressed many issues as a result of the questionnaire responses. Among them are:

The maintenance and refurbishment of existing facilities;

The provision of new facilities, particularly for young people;

Access to information about funding;

Prioritising available funds;

The role of sport in healthy lifestyles and social interaction;

Equal opportunity and sports equity. Among the sports set to benefit are football, swimming, fencing, athletics and cycling. School sports will be in focus along with ethnic minority groups and initiatives linked to the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The environmental implications of sports development will also be central to the scheme.

Councillor Warren Flood, sports and recreation chairman, expressed a desire for the strategy to be implemented as soon as possible.

But he said: "The consultation period is not quite over. However, this is the last chance for groups and individuals who want the strategy to take their views into account.

"The sports people of this borough really deserve something special and we want to make sure we get things right in every detail. That is why an effective consultation period is so important."

The draft document will go to full council with an addendum of last-minute responses attached, to allow the earlier-than-expected launch date of Wednesday, April 14.

Councillors expect the strategy to link successfully with the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) which is soon to be reviewed.

Coun Flood said: "The strategy will back up the retention of green spaces and playing fields."

And he added: "It looks likely that we will be able to bring the launch date forward because it is only a matter of adding the finishing touches from here on in."

At the meeting Coun Derek Boden said that the quicker the strategy was launched, the quicker the funding implications could be worked out.

Mr Philip Allen, director of competitive services, said: "The process is now reaching a critical period in terms of the consultation phase of the draft document. The strategy has a five-year lifespan and therefore will have a major influence on the policy of the council over that time."

The progress of the draft document will be reviewed once more before the full council meeting, at a Bury Council strategy committee meeting next Wednesday.

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