Anger as council charges school for sports day

Head of PE at Lliswerry Comprehensive, Andrew Coughlin, said he was charged £248.20 to use the stadium at the international sports village yesterday and today for sports day.

Mr Coughlin said the school used the facilities for last year's event but was charged about three-quarters of the new price.

He added his efforts to negotiate a discount failed.

He said the fee takes up nearly a third of his annual sports budget, which he uses to replace equipment.

The charge is made up of £177 for two half-day hires and £71.20 for the use for one staff attendant for two half-days.

He said he was prepared to pay for hire of equipment or stewards, but that five of his own PE teachers were supervising the event.

"All we need is someone to lock and unlock the facilities," said Mr Coughlin.

"I want to buy a new basketball kit, costing around £300 - this would nearly pay for that.

We're doing it for the kids and I'm disappointed they can't take that into consideration."

The sports day was attended by more than 100 pupils who competed in athletics events, along with spectators and parents.

Mr Coughlin says the stadium facilities are far superior to the school's, which were built in the 1970s, and claimed Lliswerry was overlooked for improvements because it was so near the sports village.

He said the charges meant he now doubted the school could afford to use the stadium in future, despite being based just a few yards away.

"They're great facilities - except we get charged for using them," he added.

Exercise and healthy living are an Assembly priority, with a report published today - Increasing Physical Activity - looking at whether the public sector's approaches to increasing physical activity are working.

A Newport Council spokesman said the cost of using the stadium had risen 25 per cent for schools over the last year.

He said: "The reason we have increased it is to cover the break-even costs, including staff."