Decision made on swimming pools
News release dated 12 October 2006 about the decision on the future of leisure provision in the borough.
The vision of the future of leisure provision within the borough was agreeed by the Council’s Executive last night (11 October 2006) following a comprehensive and extensive 11 month review.
“We have recognised the value of locality in leisure provision and will be providing a leisure centre in the north, south and centre of the borough.” (Cllr Tom Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure & Healthy Living)
Three leisure centres
They agreed that three leisure centres, each with a swimming pool, should be kept in the borough:
- Donyngs in the centre of the borough
- A new dual-use leisure centre to be built in Horley at Oakwood School
- The existing Banstead Sports Centre centre to be improved to extend its useful life by a few years, while discussions continue with Surrey County Council on an appropriate regeneration scheme for Preston.
The decision now goes to full Council who will have to agree the strategy of providing three wet and dry leisure centres and the indicative budget of £11.3m Capital expenditure towards the project.
The review recognised that it was difficult to make a decision now on whether to build a new leisure centre at Preston, or the Beacon School because the wider Preston Regeneration scheme is not finalised.
The preferred option is to build a new wet and dry facility in the regeneration area. However if the regeneration scheme does not proceed within a suitable timescale or in a suitable manner then the Beacon School site will be reconsidered.
The review was commissioned as the current contract to run the leisure centres expires mid-2008 and the Horley Anderson Centre and Banstead Sports Centre, both of which are over 35 years old, were becoming more and more expensive to maintain.
Quality and affordability
Cllr Tom Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure and Healthy Living, said: "Leisure and sport is of vital importance to our community. However, this leisure review was set in the context of crumbling leisure centres and crippling costs being placed upon Council finances.
"We promised to listen to residents, ensuring that our conclusions were representative of community aspirations without exposing the Council to excessive financial vulnerability.
“We have recognised the value of locality in leisure provision and will be providing a leisure centre in the north, south and centre of the borough.
“There is strong evidence for locating our northern site at the Beacon School, but the potential community benefit of a regeneration scheme in Preston, based around a leisure/community project is simply irresistable.”
The agreed option
The leisure review looked at a wide range of options which included different locations and facility mixes and the evaluation of different management models.
The agreed option:
- secures swimming at all three locations but makes the facilities more viable by adding dry side activities where appropriate;
- makes use of sites which offer better value by integrating new centres with other community or school facilities;
- proposes the use of a ‘Not for Profit Trust’ to manage the centres in order to gain financial savings and provide a mechanism for closer community involvement in the running of the centres.
Cllr Stoddart, cont: “These facilities will come at a cost. If agreed by Council, this strategy commits us to one of the largest capital expenditure projects we have ever undertaken and rather than decrease our subsidy of the leisure centres, we are potentially doubling it!
“Phasing will be crucial in both financial and service delivery terms. Be under no illusion this will have a direct impact on the level of council tax set in forthcoming years.
“However, we have been diligent, listened to residents, and reached the conclusion that this expenditure is both necessary and desirable.”
Work will start on compiling a project plan for all three centres. It is expected that the refurbishments of Donyngs and Banstead leisure centres would begin in 2008 and that the new centre at Oakwood would be completed in 2008/2009.
The Horley Anderson Centre would remain open whilst the new Oakwood centre was being built.
Background to the review
"Good quality facilities that provide good value for money" was the overwhelming response from residents when asked what leisure provision they wanted to see developed in the borough.
Access and affordability were key factors for respondents with 94 per cent supporting the council's aspiration of integrating 'pay and play' opportunities into future leisure provision.
Although respondents were broadly happy with what is currently provided, and how it is provided, they were less satisfied with the environment in which the activities are provided and therefore the value for money they perceive they receive. There was also a strong feeling that youth leisure facilities are inadequate.
When asked what they thought 21st century leisure facilities should include, a swimming pool was the most popular choice followed by a fitness gym and sports hall.
A good quality café and modern and appropriate changing rooms were also seen as important.
There was no demand to build an ice rink or fun pool in the borough and whilst attracting some support, squash courts and health suite facilities appear to be a low priority.
The leisure consultation receive a total of 1,382 responses from across the borough.
The breakdown of responses by centre was:
- Banstead 60% of total responses
- Horley 20% of total responses
- Donyngs 18% of total responses
A public meeting on the future of leisure provision in the borough was also held at the Harlequin Theatre, Redhill, on Wednesday 28 June at 7.30pm. Approx. 200 people attended.
Read the report that went to Executive
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