Maidenhead & Windsor

Dance fans will soon be tapping into a new Maidenhead Royal Borough facility that's just a step away from opening its doors to pupils at Furze Platt Senior School and people from the wider community.

The dance studio, bringing opportunities for dance, fitness and fun for all ages, is the result of Maidenhead council's successful bid for a £320,000 award out of the Big Lottery Fund's £750 million New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme. This programme will create new and improved PE and sports facilities and funding to support community use of these services across England.

Curtain up for the studio is at 12 noon on Wednesday July 5 2006 when the Mayor, Maidenhead Cllr Margaret Cubley, will carry out the official opening by unveiling a plaque before watching a short dance performance by students of the Furze Platt Dance Group. In the meantime the studio will be tested by students at the school and public inquiries are also welcome.

The new facility features a 15 x 12 metre semi-sprung wooden dance floor, two store rooms, an accessible toilet and welcoming entrance foyer. It will be available not only for Furze Platt pupils but also for the wider community and bookings will be taken and co-ordinated through the school.

Cllr Richard Fagence, Maidenhead council's lead member for leisure and cultural services, said he was delighted by the addition of such a superb studio to the borough's growing list of joint school/community facilities. He added: "Schools are traditionally a central part of their communities and it makes perfect sense for facilities to be provided that serve a dual purpose for the good of both the students and the people who live in the area. The more we can do to encourage joint use the better and we are very grateful for Big Lottery support to enable us to make Furze Platt a local centre for access to dance, PE and sport for this thriving community."

Tanya White, headteacher at Furze Platt Senior School, said: "The school and local community are absolutely delighted with the new dance studio. It will go a long way towards meeting the great demand for dance and exercise facilities in the this area, raising standards of PE and sport and increasing local participation."

Alison Rowe, Big Lottery Fund head of south east region, outlined the benefits that funding will bring. She said: "This dance studio will be a vital resource for the school and community. Maidenhead Furze Platt Senior School is leading the way in this area – providing access to high quality dance and exercise opportunities to hundreds of users and developing a new role as a local hub for dance and PE.

"Our funding is changing the face of sporting provision in our schools and communities, providing many more young people with the opportunity to engage in a range of physical activities."

Bookings for the new dance studio can be made on the Furze Platt School booking line 01628 762128.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead