By Geoff Fisher 
An interesting story on the proposed sports hall (“£1.8m kick‑start for high school sports hall dream”, 16 December 2025), but is this realistic? It reads as if the developer, Lovell Homes, has generously increased the £1.5 million to £1.8 million. But, is that really true? My understanding is that the original £1.5 million was “indexed linked” so will be increasing over time anyway.
But, let’s be realistic: the estimated cost of the building has been given at £3.2 million. So, somehow, and not taking into account inflation, the school/town will need to raise another £1.4 million for a proposed sports hall the size of four badminton courts. Perhaps it’s not yet been realised but a sport called padel has taken over and is already well supported locally.
Reepham has, by my reckoning, a fairly mixed population by age, so will there be a demand for a fitness gym beyond what is already offered by the various classes held during the day in and around the town?
Now, let’s look at how a “community hall” would become such. It will be built on what is, after all, private land. As it’s a school this will place restrictions on its use during the school day and possibly beyond.
The original £1.5 million was pledged to the high school, apparently alone, and not to the community. Which then raises an interesting question: just how might this be of benefit to the Reepham community as a whole?
Will this money go to the community if it does become impossible to raise the additional £1.4 million for the building on school land?
Martin Sullivan, Reepham
Image: Reepham Community Press