England –Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre’s ‘invaluable’ indoor athletics facility must be retained, a youth sports coach has said. Dave Ingram, who competes and coaches in the pole vault as well as coaching youngsters at the leisure centre, has trained at the facility for more than 20 years.The Broadbridge Heath Joint User Group (JUG) is fighting for retention of the ‘tube’ – an indoor facility at the leisure centre that includes a 60m straight, indoor pole vault, long jump and high jump areas.Dave coaches around 15o children aged between five and 12 each week.He said: “In the winter we are exclusively indoors. We can’t have under-tens in the freezing cold so it is absolutely invaluable. Without the indoor facility I am pretty certain they would all find different things to do – I imagine they would find other pursuits.”The JUG has emphasised the need for a multi-purpose facility to replace the tube when the leisure centre is redeveloped.Dave said failure to do so would have a huge impact on regional pole vaulting.He said: “For pole vaulting, it is the only facility in this part of the country. I believe the nearest place is Sutton – some of our athletes come from Brighton and from there it is even further to get up to Sutton. more
