Yeovil Recreation Centre saved through council tax rise

The future of one of Somerset's biggest public sports facilities has been secured after the town council voted through its biggest ever tax rise.

Yeovil Recreation Centre came under threat of budget cuts after Somerset Council declared a financial emergency in November 2023.

But at a meeting on Tuesday, Yeovil Town Council approved budget proposals to help save the athletics arena.

A Band D home in Yeovil will pay an extra £130 a year.

The budget was unanimously voted through for the next financial year, which includes allocating funds to take over the running and maintenance costs of Yeovil Recreation Centre.

It will also go towards the management of Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil Country Park and South Somerset Heritage Collection. The town council is also in talks with Somerset Council about the Octagon Theatre, which is currently closed.

Liberal Democrat chair of the town council, Andy Kendall, said it is the first step towards saving the facilities, but there are still months of negotiations with Somerset Council ahead.

Mr Cole said "it's places like this" where the next Olympians come from

A petition to save the site had received more than 14,000 signatures.

The site is home to Yeovil Olympiads Athletic Club, whose chairman Geoff Cole, said he is "thrilled at the outcome".

"We are delighted that the future of our sports at Yeovil Rec has been saved for today's users and future generations," he said.

"There is a lot of work ahead to ensure a successful partnership with the town council, but we thank them for recognising just what these facilities mean to so many people."

The petition was launched to halt the closure of Yeovil Recreation Centre

Secretary of Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club, Jo Stevenson, was also among the club leaders advocating for the council to intervene.

"I was told that what had swayed them was the positivity they felt when they visited us all at the Rec," she said.

"And the reassurance that we were people he could work with to get things done, so all our efforts did make a difference to the outcome."

Ms Macintosh said she will struggle to pay increased council tax rates while living on a pension

However, some local residents are concerned about the council tax increase.

"It's absolutely brilliant that the sports arena is staying open, everything's going to be ok here," said Pamela Macintosh, who regularly visits the site.

"I think my concerns are the fact that they're talking about putting the [council tax] rates up by virtually double.

"But I still want this to work, so it's really about how are they [the council] going to work that out."