Breaking News
Malaysia’s Application To Set Up HPTC In Brickendonbury Rejected
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) — The East Herts Council Development Control Committee has rejected the Malaysian government’s application to set up a High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) in Brickendonbury, Britain.
The National Sports Institute director-general, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz, said the decision was made at the council meeting in Bishops Startford, Herts, on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Malaysia).
“With the decision, we now have to prepare a report to be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Sports headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for their guidance on the next course of action,” he said in a statement.
Dr Ramlan, who attended the hearing, said: “We can either appeal, submit a fresh application, which will be a faster process, or not to pursue the matter at all. All of which depends on the pending decision by the Cabinet Committee.”
He said the council committee, chaired by R. Gilbert, saw 13 of the 19 councillors rejecting the application.
The only councillor, K.A. Barners, who spoke in support of the application, had abstained.
Dr Ramlan said NSC’s consultant, John Whittaker of White Young Green Planning, was allowed to speak for three minutes to convince the council to either approve or defer their early decision.
However, the nine objections by case officer, Tim Hagyard, in his report for the application to be rejected “clearly influenced the councillors,” he said.
“Among recommendations for the rejection came from reports from the Historical Society, Biological Centre, Development Planning Unit and Brickendon Liberty Parish,” Dr Ramlan said.
In their rejection, he said, the councillors were concerned over the absence of future plans to develop the HPTC, and the limited facilities built in the first phase of the plan.
“Although the committee was drawn to the positive feedback and support from Sport England’s senior planning manager, Roy Warren, on the application, they (the committee) felt they have to reject the application at that stage,” he said. The 16ha TARRC, owned by the Malaysian Rubber Board, is in Hertfordshire, East London, just 24km from the London 2012 Olympics Games Village.
Among facilities available at TARRC are a football field, swimming pool, cricket pitch, canteen, hostel, laboratory, meeting rooms and office.
Dr Ramlan said recently the proposal to develop the TARRC into a HPTC was submitted to the East Herts Council in June and a series of meetings were held by ministry officials with the councillors.
He had expected the HPTC to be operational by early next year after the 10 million pounds (RM67.22 million) renovation project, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Sports, was completed.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had said the HPTC would serve as a transit centre for Malaysian athletes before competing in Europe.
Malaysian Under-16 football squad are among sportsmen who had a chance to stay at the TARRC in May during their friendly stint with Arsenal U-16 team.
— BERNAMA