Leisure finance plan needed

A decision on a new leisure centre for Newark will not be taken until a full business plan has been drawn up.

The leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Mr Roger Blaney (Con) backs plans to replace ageing facilities at the Grove, Balderton, with a new leisure centre that could be built off Elm Avenue/Bowbridge Road.

However, he admitted all the information needed to be seen by councillors before they could make a decision.

“The final decision to proceed has not been taken, but if we are not careful we will not have a leisure centre in the area that represents over 50% of the population of this district,” Mr Blaney said.

The Labour group leader, Mr Stan Crawford, was concerned the business plan was not complete and asked members why it had not been raised before.

He was concerned about the financial impact a leisure centre could have.

“I’m not against a leisure centre for Newark. I’m in the dark about how this is going to be financed,” he said.

He asked whether the council would borrow the money and, if it did, whether it would affect the council tax base rate.

He said an expensive attraction such as indoor surfing could attract visitors from across the country, but something like a climbing wall was fairly common, and he was concerned about how facilities like those would be financed.

Mr David Staples (Lab) said all members would support a leisure centre in Newark given the right circumstances.

Mrs Abbie Truswell (Lab) said she was worried the council could be “liable for terrible debts.”

Mr Ben Wells (Lab) said he was worried the centre would become a financial millstone.

Mrs Maureen Dobson (Ind) asked if a private sector partnership had been investigated.

The council’s cabinet member for leisure, Mr Roger Jackson, said the Grove was expected to exceed 500,000 users this year and had doubled its membership, proving there was a need.

He said while money was spent on refurbishing leisure centres in Southwell, Ollerton and Blidworth, it was spent on repairing and maintaining The Grove.

He said it was important to provide a lasting Olympics legacy.

He said indoor surfing had been costed as too much to provide while consultants had advised sticking to popular sports.

Mr Tony Roberts (Con) said the Grove was nearly 50 years old and at least ten years past its best.

He said the sale of the Potterdyke carpark (to Asda) could make a financial contribution.

Mr Roberts said they had to guard against fads that waned in popularity such as skateboarding and squash.

The leisure centre could be part of a bigger sports hub at Elm Avenue with clubs offered long leases in return for applying to their various governing bodies for development funding.

It was hoped a decision could be taken when the council considers its budgets for the next financial year.