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Club Statement - Darlington Sports Village

Club Statement - Darlington Sports Village

Tom Bulmer10 Jul 2020 - 16:00
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Following recent speculation Darlington Mowden Park refutes parts of the article published 9th of July in the Northern Echo.

The Club understands the article to be based upon some singular comments and it is not yet clear as to whether the views are reflective of Darlington Borough Council as a whole.

The Club will not extensively and publicly comment whilst still in an ongoing process with Darlington Borough Council. However for public record the Club must briefly address some inaccuracies in relation to the article content.

The Club has worked extensively and collaboratively with Darlington Borough Council at all levels throughout every stage of the Darlington Sports Village project over several years.

£450,000 of Tees Valley Combined Authority funding was secured with and through Darlington Borough Council to procure a full team of industry leading consultants and services to progress Darlington Sports Village.

In the view of the Club and the project team, which includes professionals who have delivered multiple regionally significant developments, Darlington Sports Village is deliverable.

Darlington Sports Village can represent a once in a generation development for our town and region with impacts and benefits for generations to come across: sport; events; education; business; community services; health; employment; tourism; and inward investment. The Club’s view is that we should be ambitious and aspire for such facilities and outcomes for our region, especially when soundly backed and supported by confirmed commercial anchors.

The Club has not been privy to the full Darlington Borough Council feasibility report that is identified in the article and as such is unable to comment specifically in that respect. The Club has requested the report.

The Club nor the joint venture proposal has never asked Darlington Borough Council to commit £17m of its current funds into the project, nor any of its reserves ongoing. The sole basis of the proposed equal joint venture is well documented as both parties pooling their current sporting facilities to then deliver an up to date and regionally inspiring community sport output.

The Club recognises its role as owner and custodian of the Arena facility on behalf of the town and region and it would like to confirm its continued commitment for delivering a community-orientated site. It will continue to seek to progress with Darlington Borough Council and to gain clarity.

The Club will make available full and further information in due course for transparency.

The Club would like to confirm that, whilst it is facing challenges and changes due to Covid-19 as are most business, it is categorically in a financially secure position for the long term.

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