SUPPORT has grown to regenerate the run-down Feltham Arenas as a sports club eyes-up the grounds for a new home.
Richmond Volleyball club, which has hundreds of members from surrounding communities in Richmond, Kingston, Hounslow, and Surrey, is in pursuit to develop a world class indoor and beach facility to build on the legacy of the Olympic Games.
The largely volunteer based club needs a permanent home and is keen to nurture the Feltham-site which is the perfect location for it to thrive in.
David Rijvers, Richmond Volleyball club chairman, said: "We are a community club working in a number of boroughs. One of our biggest problems is we do not have a home. "We have about 350 members in the club and work in sports centres across the three boroughs. The costs of these facitlies is killing us and access to school facilities are difficult.
"Beach volleyball is another area we are looking to expand - we need an indoor home and a beach volleyball home."
The community club, which has a cabinet filled with trophies including twice voted National Sports Club of the Year, works with a number of venues and has teams playing in county leagues.
Some of the programmes it runs includes everyone from under nines, and under 18s, to adult beginners and elite competitors in the national league.
It also runs a schools coaching programme for 40 schools across the three boroughs, reaching nearly 2,400 young people.
The club, formed in 1992, is looking to partner up with other key sports organisations in gymnastics and aquadrome cycling to bring together three popular Olympic sports in the community.
It also has strong backing from Sport England and a lump sum to use as funding towards a new facility. It is currently constrained in its growth to meet community demand by inadequate indoor facilities.
Mr Rijvers added: "We are actively looking for a home, with strong backing from Sport England and have raised over £250,000 for a facility. Feltham Arenas could be that new home. I think it could really utilise the area and provide opportunities for young people. It could be a really exciting project but needs political will to happen."
Seema Malhotra MP for Feltham and Heston, said: “I am concerned sufficient progress has not yet been made to restore Feltham Arenas site to a major local sporting hub for our community.
"Young and old alike are calling for this space to be repaired and invested in - and become once again a beacon for ambition that the whole community has pride in. Just this week even more residents raised this with me on the doorstep. I am pleased Hounslow Council is committed to a sporting future for the site, but much more remains to be done.”
Hounslow council said they are happy to meet with Richmond Volleyball and explore any opportunities.
