Local Lib Dems Celebrate Victory over Cultural Funding

11.46.35am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Jan 2008

Local Lib Dems recently unveiled proposals for the establishment of a 'Sports Academy' of existing venues within the borough that could provide training facilities and teaching in related skills such as coaching and physiotherapy.

Local Liberal Democrats are celebrating a significant victory after government ministers agreed to their proposals on Lottery funding for the Olympics which could provide £400m extra for grassroots sporting and cultural organisations by 2012.

Walthamstow Liberal Democrats welcomed the Government's decision to support their party's position and launch a review of proposals, including a change in the tax system for the National Lottery and a clampdown on 'lottery-style' betting games. The government also backed down to Lib Dem calls to provide a further commitment not to use any further lottery funds for London 2012.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Chapel End, John Macklin, reacted to the news by urging the Labour government to provide funding for grassroots sporting facilities in Waltham Forest. Local Lib Dems recently unveiled proposals for the establishment of a 'Sports Academy' of existing venues within the borough that could provide training facilities and teaching in related skills such as coaching and physiotherapy.

Commenting, Cllr John Macklin said

"This commitment to our proposals will hopefully provide some comfort to the many vital organisations facing cuts in their lottery funding.

"London 2012 should serve as an inspiration to the country's sporting and cultural groups, not a hindrance. The Olympics arriving on our doorstep in Waltham Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and local young people should be provided with a safe environment where they can both enjoy sporting activity with their friends and also learn valuable, marketable skills.

"It is simply unacceptable that the government should allow yet another generation of young people to miss out on the benefits of regular physical, sporting activity."

The Liberal Democrat's national spokesman for cultural and sporting issues, Don Foster MP, also welcomed the news. Mr Foster recently gave his support to proposals by Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats that would see residents able to play a much bigger part in the running of community facilities, such as local libraries.

"I'm delighted that the Government has finally seen sense and will use our proposals to significantly boost funding for lottery backed organisations around the country".