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Ex-mayor joins rifle group row
By Susan Leigh
Aug 13, 2002, 3:04pm
Wolverhampton's former mayor has vowed to back a rifle association's fight to uncover exactly how money has been
spent on refurbishing Aldersley Leisure Village.
Councillor Joyce Hill's move follows criticism from various organisations, including Wolverhampton Smallbore Rifle
Association, about the design of the council-owned stadium, which they have branded a waste of money.
Councillor Hill says there has been a lot of controversy concerning the £7 million work programme at the stadium from
the outset.
She said that as far as she was aware the money obtained by the council included refurbishing the now derelict outdoor
range run by the rifle association.
"I feel very disappointed that the outdoor range has been dismantled like this," she said.
"It should never have been allowed to go the way it has.
"This range used to be widely used by people from all over the world and I do think there should have been some
money to help the association refurbish it rather than allow it to close down.
"I back the association in their calls for a full investigation into where and how the money has been spent by the council
on refurbishing the stadium," she added.
Antony Spittle, of Wolverhampton Smallbore Rifle Association, said grants were obtained specifically for the range, but
had been spent on other projects, with not a penny on the range.
"Our treatment has been disgraceful, and people should be aware of what's going on," added Mr Spittle.
"The spending at Aldersley cries out for a full investigation.
The council's leisure portfolio holder, Councillor Bob Jones, said the rifle association had called for an investigation
previously which had been rejected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, along with the secretary of state.
He said they did have money for the outdoor range but that it would go towards its redevelopment, not repairs and
maintenance, which Councillor Jones said that was the responsibility of the association.
They had failed to carry it out, and the council had now served notice on them to terminate their lease.
He said they had the lottery funding to make sure the sport was sustainable and as a result opened it up to five shooting
disciplines.
Councillor Jones claimed the association was not co-operating with them.
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