Date: 06 April 2008 17:03

COUNTY COUNCIL MAKES A SPLASH TO HELP SPORTS LAKE TRUST

A Cambridgeshire County Council decision to lease nearly 10 acres of land to 
South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) has proved a key element in 
securing the future of Milton Country Park.

The County Council owned land - which is mostly open water and an access 
roadway between two lakes - roughly divides the Country Park and agreement 
to lease the land to the District Council enabled South Cambridgeshire to 
finalise the hand over of management of the entire Country Park to the 
Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust (CSLT).

In December 2006 SCDC decided to look for a suitable partner to manage and 
run Milton Country Park to secure its long-term future.

SCDC selected Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust as its preferred bidder, and now 
following agreement with the County Council to lease its land on a 
peppercorn rent for 99 years, the management of the Milton Country Park has 
been transferred to CSLT.

County Council Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Councillor John 
Reynolds, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to agree the lease of 
our land in the middle of the Country Park to South Cambridgeshire District 
Council, which as a result has been able to agree to transfer the management 
of the entire park to the Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, which will ensure the 
Country Park continues to be enjoyed by local people and the thousands of 
visitors who use the facilities each year."

Chris Dalley, chairman of the CSLT board of trustees said: "Cambridge Sport 
Lakes Trust is delighted with the outcome of this process with SCDC. By 
securing a future for Milton Country Park, all of the organisations and 
individuals who have supported this effort have wisely protected an 
important recreational facility for the community in Cambridge and the 
Cambridgeshire sub region. The transfer marks an important step towards our 
goal of developing the Cambridge Sport Lakes as a facility we can all be 
proud of."

John Reynolds