Latest news with #RugbyBoroughCouncil
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Tennis courts in Rugby park reopen after £75,000 refurbishment
A set of tennis courts in Warwickshire have reopened following a near £75,000 refurbishment, Rugby Borough Council has announced. The facilities at Caldecott Park, Rugby, now boast new hard court surfaces, net posts, nets, security gates and comes after the council secured a £50,000 grant from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and its Tennis Foundation's Park Tennis Project, supported by government funding. Councillor Maggie O'Rourke said the council planned for the courts to host local tennis leagues and offer Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions. She said: "We're delighted to officially reopen Caldecott Park's tennis courts following the generous support from the LTA Tennis Foundation."Through the Park Tennis Project, the LTA plans to deliver the biggest ever investment in park tennis facilities across Britain, offering players of all ages and ability the opportunity to pick up a racquet and play."Both courts are open seven days a week and can be booked via the LTA's Lloyd, LTA chief executive, said: "We're delighted to see the tennis courts in Rugby's Caldecott Park reopen to the public - and in better shape than ever."Park tennis courts are vital for providing people with opportunities to pick up a racquet and we want as many people as possible, of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, to enjoy playing tennis and being active." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rugby council pulls venue for Katie Hopkins stand-up show
A Katie Hopkins' stand-up show has been cancelled over safety concerns, due to a planned protest set to take place outside the venue. Rugby Borough Council in Warwickshire said it was cancelling Saturday's show by the political commentator and former Apprentice contestant under advice from police. A statement released on Tuesday said Benn Hall was a "family venue" and the council could not guarantee the safety of either ticket holders or protesters if the show went posted on social media to say her team were not given a chance to provide a solution and "refuse to be cancelled", calling on other venues to pick up the booking. The 50-year-old said the cancellation of the sold-out show would affect 480 ticket holders, in a 10-minute Instagram video. She told her followers: "We have not been given the opportunity to mitigate this. "We can provide security. Any protest we have we can make sure they're well looked after on the other side of the road."We've not been given an opportunity to discuss this and try and resolve it." 'Cannot guarantee safety' Rugby Borough Council said concerns were raised about the stand-up tour coming to the town and it made the decision after taking advice from Warwickshire Police. A spokesperson said: "The Benn Hall is primarily a family venue with many community events and activities from musical shows to antiques fairs. "We want to support all our communities and their interests with safe, fun activities that everyone can enjoy."We are aware of a planned protest on the evening of the performance with significant numbers of individuals and organisations indicating their intention to attend."Because we are responsible for event safety and cannot guarantee the safety of ticket holders or protesters, we have cancelled the booking. "We understand the depth of feeling this matter has invoked. We will review the Benn Hall booking policy and debate it at a forthcoming meeting of the council."Hopkins said: "We will not allow our audience to be cancelled on", as she put out a plea to bars and venues in Rugby to take on the booking. Ticket holders have been told to contact promoters for refunds. Hopkins said customers would get an email by close of play wrote on X: "Council CEO Dan Green intends to cancel the fully sold out Benn Hall without cause. "We refuse to be cancelled. The show MUST go on." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Love Rugby Festival celebrating arts and sport to boost town
A festival getting under way in Rugby will celebrate arts and culture along with sport and Love Rugby Festival starts later and runs until 6 July, and one of the highlights will be the Couch to 5K fun run through the town centre on the last day, with the finish line at Whitehall Recreation Borough Council said the festival had been organised to boost pride in the borough and increase footfall in the town coincides with Rugby School's Festival on the Close, and Warwickshire Open Studios' Summer Art Weeks festival. The council said the run was to celebrate sport and to tie in with the festival's theme of improving people's mental and physical will follow a route that takes them past landmarks such as Rugby School, Caldecott Park and the Clock Tower. 'Celebrating the best' The festival lineup includes several exhibitions at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a "birthday bash" on Saturday. Displays for children and families include self-portraits and crafted animal figures.A butterfly trail has been organised in Caldecott Park, where people can pick up a sheet and search for 15 colourful, wooden events are being held to celebrate Pride, including a speed-meet, a cinema night and march and picnic, on events include a football festival all weekend, triathlon taster sessions on Monday and Tuesday, and paddlesport at the Rugby Canoe Club on leader Michael Moran urged people to join in, be part of something special and celebrate "the very best" of the town. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hundreds of new school places proposed in Rugby
An extra 300 pupils could attend a school in Rugby if council plans go forward.A consultation is under way to add another 60 children per year group at Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College, the only secondary school in the north of proposal also includes the creation of a specialist resourced provision – a dedicated section within a mainstream school – for 20 students with special educational needs and associated with the proposed development would include a new extension and internal remodelling works to the existing school building, a Rugby Borough Council report said. Councils have to consult the public on such changes with the opportunity to air views planned to run from 23 June until 20 the plan progress, it would go before the council's cabinet for a decision in September with the plan for the extra capacity to be open in time for the school year starting in September report stated: "Rugby north planning area is currently forecasting an ongoing shortfall for Year 7 entry of circa 30 places per year. "This shortfall is expected to continue as approved housing in the area is built out."It is proposed to increase the number of secondary places in this area by expanding Avon Valley School from 220 places to 280 places. "This increase of 60 places per year group will meet the current shortfall as well as ensuring future capacity to meet the need for school places." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rugby museum celebrates 25th anniversary with special exhibition
A special exhibition is set to go on display at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum later this month to mark its 25th Blueprints, the exhibition will include preliminary sketches made by celebrated artists including LS Lowry. Also on display will be rare photographs of the gallery under construction and the original architectural on 21 June, organisers said the exhibition will provide insight into how artists develop ideas into works of art. "Artist sketchbooks tend to be private, temporary and personal - places where artists work through ideas, ask questions and, sometimes, make mistakes," said Katie Boyce, the museum's senior exhibitions and programming officer."When you open a sketchbook, you catch the artist mid-thought, mid-question and mid-decision. "It's the visual equivalent of overhearing someone talking to themselves." 'Imaginations and inspirations' Councillor Maggie O'Rourke, Rugby Borough Council's portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing, said the exhibition explores the "literal and metaphorical building blocks" not just of the artworks, but the building itself."It's a rare opportunity to take a peek into the imaginations and inspirations of many of the artists featured in The Rugby Collection, and also discover the history of the building which has played such a pivotal part in our cultural life over the past quarter of a century."The exhibition runs until 6 September.
