THE Government has said that a delay in deciding whether it will provide funding for the Stadium for Cornwall is down to it waiting for a finished business case for the project.

Minister for Sport Mims Davies has written to Cornwall Council stating that the Government is supportive of the scheme but says it still needs a “final business case”.

The Stadium for Cornwall, which would provide a home for Cornish Pirates as well as Truro City Football Club and facilities for Truro and Penwith College, is set to be built on land near Threemilestone.

Partners in the £14.6 million project asked Cornwall Council last year to help provide the final £6m needed to get work underway. The council agreed to provide £3m but only if it was matched by the Government.

In agreeing to provide the money the council hoped that the Government would fulfil a pledge made by former Prime Minister David Cameron who said that funding would not be an issue if it was required.

However, since Cornwall agreed to provide the money in April 2018 there have been concerns about the delay in getting funding from the Government.

Last year the council agreed to write to the Government asking for clarification.

In her reply Ms Davies said “the government has been clear that it is supportive of the proposals and would like to see the project succeed”.

She adds: “Officials from this department and Her Majesty’s Treasury have held several meetings involving developers, Cornwall Council, Sport England and local MPs to discuss progress and all are agreed that the business case requires further work in specific areas before it would qualify for public funding at the level requested.

“The current focus for those leading the project should be on developing and finalising the business case, based on the feedback that Government and Sport England have provided to date. We and Sport England would be happy to continue to support this process and look forward to receiving a final business case.

“We will remain in dialogue with the partners and I am sure that all concerned are looking forward to a satisfactory and timely conclusion.”

The minister reiterated her comments on the need for a “robust business case” when she was asked about the issue by St Ives MP Derek Thomas during a debate about Sport in the UK in the House of Commons yesterday.

She also added that there had been “some positive discussion and I am delighted that we can build on that”.

Mr Thomas raised concerns about efforts being made to get more people active in Cornwall and a target to increase the number of people getting regular exercise by 50,000. The project was highlighted in a report last week which stated that lack of exercise is a contributary factor in 800 deaths a year in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Conservative MP said: “It is important that the Government get behind this stadium because the Cornwall Sports Partnership is nowhere near delivering the extra 50,000 more people in the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly being more physically active as part of daily life. It is already accepted that the geography of Cornwall presents challenges for access to sport and that Cornwall is not receiving its fair share. Sport England acknowledged just last month that there is a rural location factor and that access to and between facilities is a real issue in Cornwall. It also acknowledged that there has not been the same investment in Cornwall as in other parts of the country.

“The Stadium for Cornwall project is committed to delivering better health outcomes, improving the lives of vulnerable adults and families, improving the physical and mental health of children and young people and increasing the aspiration of young people, especially those who are disadvantaged. Those of us who have been engaged in the project for some time recognise that there is significant political will for the stadium to be built. We are also confident that this is a sound investment for the Government, because it provides an opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of tens of thousands of people of all ages across the Duchy.”

And Mr Thomas added: “Those who have been involved in the stadium for Cornwall project for a long time believe that the Government would welcome the opportunity to back and fund this initiative, but we are also perplexed. Given the positive case I have set before the House today, I cannot pretend that the Stadium for Cornwall partners are not frustrated by the hurdles we are having to jump over and perplexed by the hoops we are having to jump through to secure just 20% of the funding for an initiative that delivers on something at the heart of Government funding.”

Responding, the minister reiterated her comments on the need for a “robust business case”. She also added that there had been “some positive discussion and I am delighted that we can build on that”.

In a statement the stadium partners said: “The business case for the Stadium for Cornwall has been submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and has been subject to the usual due diligence process.  The Stadium for Cornwall partners continue to work with Sport England and DCMS in response to the clarifications raised as part of that process. The partners remain encouraged from the feedback received and are working towards a positive outcome.”