Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Leisure and Museums – report circulated.

Councillor Winterbottom declared a personal interest as he used both the Pyramids and the Clifton Hill Sports Centre.

The Head of Leisure and Museums presented the report outlining the results of the feasibility study into the suitability of Clifton Hill as a site for a new pool to replace the Pyramids and seeking approval for development funding of up to £85,000 to obtain a RIBA Stage C design for a 25 metre 8 lane pool.

The feasibility study had looked at three options for a new pool for the City: a 50 metre pool, an 8 lane 25 metre pool and a 6 lane 25 metre pool.  Each option was to include provision for a learner pool. There was insufficient space to pursue a 50 metre option and the costs of providing and running a 50 metre pool were much greater than for a 25 metre pool with the cost of removing contaminated land fill very high. A 50 metre pool would also need substantially more ancillary room if it was going to fulfil national and regional competition needs. The Amateur Swimming Association had expressed a preference for a 50 metre pool in Plymouth.

Either of the two 25 metre options would fit on the site.  An 8 lane pool would provide significantly more flexibility than a 6 lane pool and also be able to host national events. It was likely that a 20 metre wide, 8 lane (2.5 metre lane width), 2.5 metre deep main pool would satisfy all of the main users’ aspirations, especially if part of it had a moving floor.  However, the costings and the fitting of the pool within the uncontaminated land were based on a 16 metre wide pool (2 metres per lane) so it may not be possible to achieve everything.

There was approximately £27,000 remaining in the feasibility study budget and it was suggested that an additional sum of up to £85,000 be allocated for the work needed to reach RIBA Stage C, to create a development budget of up to £112,000.

A Member welcomed the proposal and hoped it would be developed as a centre of excellence for swimming to complement other sporting facilities in the City such as at the Arena, at the University and at the new Rugby Stadium. Given that a 50 metre pool had not been considered appropriate, he hoped that a facility of the highest standard would be provided. In response to Members’ comments, the Head of Leisure and Museums stated that a diving facility had not been incorporated into the proposal as this would have necessitated a separate and deeper area as well as a higher ceiling. In addition, there was no significant demand. He agreed that street lighting around and along the approach roads to the Clifton Hill Centre should be of a high standard and this would be examined as part of the overall project as would the potential for improving public transport access to the site, possibly by seeking a bus service to the Centre. It was noted that the bus station was close to the Centre.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested the Executive and Council to:-

(1)               confirm the intentions to build a new 8 lane, 25 metre swimming pool at Clifton Hill to replace Pyramids subject to it being affordable within the framework of the Council’s current medium term financial plan;

(2)               proceed to the appointment of a design team; and

(3)               allocate funding for the procurement of architectural services to design a 25 metre 8 lane pool to RIBA Stage C level of detail.

(Report circulated)