National sports centre 'a waste'

Labour yesterday attacked the Government's plans for an Academy of Sport because it intends to centralise it in a single site, possibly in the Midlands.

Jack Cunningham, Labour's national heritage spokesman, accused the Government of failing to consult sports bodies, who would prefer several regional academies. The Prime Minister launched the plan last year as the centrepiece of his "sport for all" initiative to commemorate the millennium.

Dr Cunningham warned the scheme would be a waste of the pounds 100m allocated to the project from National Lottery profits.