BROMSGROVE'S sports stars of the future will suffer after the whistle was blown on their grants, it is claimed.

Bromsgrove and District Sports Council has been told that it will no longer receive an annual £800 grant for administration and a further £1,400 a year to distribute to local clubs and organisations.

Sports council chairman Athol Deakin said Bromsgrove District Council's decision is a major blow.

"We used to distribute the cash on behalf of the district to pay for equipment and kit, but now we can't," he said.

"The people I feel sorry for are the youngsters who are our's and Britain's stars of the future. It's sad at a time when the Government is striving to encourage more children to take up sport and get more exercise. Bromsgrove has some excellent sports people who compete at regional and national level. The grants have helped many launch and maintain their careers," he added.

The district council now wants the sports council, an independent body, to use its own cash reserves to continue to issue grants. But this has necessitated the drawing up of a new constitution allowing much smaller grants to be given for only a limited time.

Urging the council to rethink, Mr Deakin, a labour district councillor for Sidemoor who is suspended until August, said. "The council is planning to spend £2m of council tax payers money on golden handshakes and generous retirement packages in a shake up of senior staff.

"The £2,200 it gave us to bring joy to hundreds of local sports enthusiasts is chicken feed."

Councillor June Griffiths (Con-Alvechurch), who is the cabinet member responsible for leisure, said: "We had to look at the grant situation this year, but consideration will be given to applications next year when we go through the budget process."

pete.lammas@midlands.

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