Article by Peter Waterman: Recreation and Leisure

This article gives a comprehensive summary of facilities and activities provided for the population of Milton Keynes for the arts, heritage, recreation of many different types and sport, during the life of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation (MKDC). Peter sets out the Master Plan (MP) strategy for leisure and recreation, with Social Development Department (SD) having a leading role, and parks and sports facilities provided according to Sports Council recommendations. Tod Cody’s report in 1976 summarised the provision. However, Peter highlights inherent problems in North Bucks in achieving the MP programme: delays, local authorities’ failures and increased building costs. He recounts MKDC developments in The Arts, Recreation and Sport, including arts, sports & leisure facilities such as Stantonbury, Bletchley and Madcap Theatres, Interaction and Wavendon Allmusic Plan. He credits the persistence of Mike Barron and Cynthia Holgate (in SD) in the face of lack of vision by officials, and the contributions of Hilary Davan Wetton and Roy Nevitt to community arts. Local community facilities, including play areas, allotments, local parks and workshops were the responsibility of SD; and from 1978 an MKDC Recreation Unit led by Brian Salter was set up to manage all the larger leisure facilities.

Finally, Peter covers the topic of Museums; he outlines significant failures in this area, by both Bucks County Council (BCC) and MKDC, despite appointment of archaeologists and the excellent excavations in the area. In 1981 SD took over the Rescue Archaeology Unit and proposed better strategies for Stacey Hill Museum and Bradwell Abbey, provided that both employed a museum professional to manage them. Costs were met by the SE area Museums Service and MKDC. Bradwell Abbey was renamed The City Discovery Centre. Both continue to be successful but Peter regrets that earlier progress on museums was not achieved.