Views sought on pools plan (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Views sought on pools plan

11:30pm Tuesday 11th November 2008 in

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Bradfordians are to be consulted on proposals for a showpiece city-centre swimming pool with ice rink, three new pools and the creation of a sporting village at Odsal.

It follows discussion of a feasibility study which was put to Bradford Council’s executive yesterday.

Councillors agreed to undertake a consultation based on the ‘new builds’ suggested in the ‘supply-and-demand’ investigation carried out by consultants for the Council.

The study identifies a need for a 25-metre city-centre pool as well as new pools in South Bradford, Bingley and Queensbury. It is envisaged that the city centre pool would cost £15 million, along with a new ice rink, which would cost £10 million.

People will be asked about a refurbishment programme for the remaining pools and sports hall, and building the Odsal Sporting Village.

At the meeting, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for culture and tourism, said: “This has been a modelling exercise to show where there are gaps in provision within the district. This is the consultants’ report which has identified a big gap for a strategic pool. We need to look in more detail at this and we need to find the money.

“In the current economic climate we can make no great promises. I don’t think any of these projects are going to happen next year.”

The study into the future of the district’s pools studies the impact of five scenarios ending with the effect of closing five pools and replacing them with the city-centre showpiece pool, with a site on Thornton Road a possibility.

More than 2,600 people have signed up to the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Swimming campaign, which began when the consultants’ initial report which favoured closing four pools in the district. It calls for the Council to safeguard the future of community swimming pools in the district and to build a new showpiece pool in the city centre.

Councillors also discussed the plan to provide free swimming at Council-owned pools from next April. The Government’s free swim programme is only being part-funded for the first two years - and the extra costs will fall on the Council.

A shortfall of £70,000 for under 16s and a further £40,00 for over-60s will be the subject of a bid during the Council’s budget-making process which takes place in March next year.

Bradford has been allocated £112,000 from the Government’s reward fund which will be used to develop the feasibility study for a city centre pool.

The first stage of an application has been made to a £50 million challenge fund for help towards proposals for the £15 million strategic pool.