BRITAIN’S FAMOUS SPORTS AREAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FAMOUS SPORTS AREAS

RE-ESTABLISHMENT PLAN

BUILDING PRIORITY ON AN “AUSTERITY BASIS”

Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 7.5 p.m. London, Nov. 16. Building priority is likely to be given to the reconstruction of sports grounds and arenas in Britain. That is the inference drawn from the granting of repair licences to enable the Grand National to be run at Aintree next March and the Derby at Epsom in the summer. The amount Epsom and Aintree authorities are permitted to spend on restoration of grandstands and crush barriers is £6OOO each.

These austerity licences are the first indications of a new Government policy to assist to the utmost degree, so far as consistent with other demands, the re-establishment of the traditional national sporting events of Britain. It is stated that there is every prospect that the centre court at Wimbledon will be made ready in time for lawn tennis championships next June. Sympathetic consideration is expected to be given .to the restoring or the famous test match Cricket grounds damaged during the war, such as the Oval, Old Trafford and Bramallans, Sheffield. Big football arenas, such as West Ham, Birmingham, and the Arsenal stadium, now either without roofs to their stands or totally out of action, are, it is understood, on the Minister of Work's list for consideration.

The Government’s plan is to reestablish “austerity” amenities for the many rather than luxury facilities for the few. Claims for licences will be viewed strictly from that standpoint. If the Olympic Games for 1948 are granted to London, the enlarging and re-equipping of the Wembley stadium would probably come under the special consideration of Cabinet, and be dealt with as a matter of national policy.