RUSHMERE sports centre is today being taken over by the town’s oldest-established independent school – but will remain open to the public.

Ipswich School has taken over the sports centre following the completion of negotiations with the previous owners.

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “We are delighted to be adding to our sports facilities at Ipswich School through this takeover of Rushmere Sports Centre.

“It will enable us to improve the sport we already offer at the school, particularly in terms of hockey where we will now have excellent facilities both outdoor and indoor.”

A new Astroturf hockey pitch is currently being constructed at the sports centre, which will enable the school to make the most of its sporting strength in hockey.

Ipswich School teams regularly appear in national finals, and former pupils Harry Martin and George Pinner were selected as part of the Team GB hockey squad at the Olympics this year.

Mr Weaver added: “With a focus on the Olympic legacy, this new facility will help us to make the most of our hockey links, as well as providing us with new facilities for tennis and netball.”

The school has also been meeting the current users of the centre, to make sure there is continued community use and access for local people to the facilities.

The purchase is not part of the school’s sports development programme linked to the controversial proposed northern fringe development.

The school is hoping to develop new sports fields on Tuddenham Road to replace its playing fields on Westerfield Road which are within the northern fringe – but the Rushmere purchase is not part of those moves.

Will the Rushmere purchase be good for sport in Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk