New changing facilities at Ruskin hindered by loss of £250k funding

The Star previously reported over sports clubs’ frustrations over a lack of available changing room facilities at Ruskin Sports Complex, in Dentons Green.

Sports clubs that use the Ruskin site include Pilkington ARLFC, Pilkington FC, Ruskin Park RUFC and St Helens Town Cricket Club.

Four changing rooms were closed several years ago at the site with issues exacerbated further recently by the Bath House facilities being condemned last August.

Club representatives have previously told the Star they feel they have been “disregarded” by the council, calling the situation “a scandal” and claiming the local authority had “mismanaged the site”.

The Star has learned that the council had approval for £250,000 funding from the Createdby Fund, launched by Sport England as part of their support for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 to provide facilities at the site for Pilks ARLFC.

But due to timeframes and budgetary pressures the council says it could not accept the grant and Sport England recommitted the funds elsewhere.

This was due to a condition that the project had to be completed by October 31, 2022 .

St Helens Council said it “did not have the capacity” to deliver the project within this timeframe, with budgetary pressures meaning they could not accept the money.

Pilks ARLFC has said they feel the council has “dragged their heels” over providing “a fit-for-purpose facility” for them.

The fact that the local authority has also pro-actively publicised how RLWC funding had provided a legacy for other areas has raised eyebrows among frustrated club officials.

Several other community clubs also benefited from projects where the money was spent.

Separately, there have also been investments agreed for sports pitches in Newton-le-Willows announced this week.

The Bath House changing facilities have been condemned

St Helens Borough Council confirmed to the Star that it applied for £250,000 funding from the Createdby Fund launched by Sport England as part of their support for the Rugby League World Cup 2021.

In March 2022 the council was informed that the grant had been approved, however, one of the grant conditions was that the project had to be completed by October 31.

The council said that because it would also have to borrow substantial funds to complete the project, the grant could not be used.

A council statement read: "Whilst the grant award was welcome the council would have had to also borrow up to £600,000 to complete the project.

"At that time, the council did not have the capacity to deliver the project within the timescales set out in the funding agreement and this alongside the increased cost of borrowing at a time when the council already had a significant budget gap, regrettably meant we could not accept the grant."

The council added that it had since corresponded with Sport England who confirmed the funds that were allocated to our project have been recommitted and are no longer available.

Pilks Recs are based at the Ruskin site

In 2023, the closure of the Bath House facilities left the site with eight changing rooms not in use.

Sports clubs expressed further frustration over the lack of progress over the past six months to provide adequate replacement facilities.

The council says it has now “secured funding” to repair Bath House, with a programme delivery timeline being worked on.

A spokesperson said: "We have secured funding to repair the Bath House and are working up the programme delivery timeline.

"In the interim we will be providing temporary portable facilities which we recognise may not meet the needs of all of the clubs. We understand this is a frustrating situation but we are communicating regularly to ensure all clubs are informed and involved in the process and thank them for their patience and their flexibility as we strive to make the repairs as quickly as we can.

"Officers will continue to meet with the clubs affected to keep them updated as the scheme progresses and seek to resolve any issues as they arise."