Council to splash out on new pool after closing two in city
A NEW 25-metre swimming pool at a council-run leisure centre could cost up to £7 million.
The Sentinel revealed last year how Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now aiming to revamp gym and swimming facilities at Dimensions – three years after threatening to shut down the Burslem centre.
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Dimensions
The authority has confirmed it does not want to replace the popular splash pool as part of the overhaul and intends to add a new 25-metre swimming pool.
But the full cost of the project is likely to hit £7 million and only £500,000 in council funding has been set aside.
It means the rest of the cash will have to be raised through grants or sponsorship by a private company.
Residents fought for a year to save Shelton swimming pool, which closed alongside Tunstall pool to save £160,000 last March.
It was used by people suffering from medical conditions as part of rehabilitation, but is now earmarked for demolition.
Campaigner Helen Burgess, of Milton, said: "We asked them to explore every possible avenue to help keep Shelton open because of the number of people who needed it and they wouldn't consider any of it. Now they are going to spend all of that money on Dimensions. It's a disgrace and they shouldn't be allowed to do it, but we feel like there's nothing we can do."
Matt Burke, who runs community website MyTunstall and was part of the trust which attempted to save Tunstall Pool, said: "It would be nice to have a swimming pool back in the area, but at the moment it seems like a pipe dream because I can't see them getting the funding.
"The timing is not good because the money is needed elsewhere, and there was no need to close Tunstall pool in the first place."
Figure show Dimensions is one of the city council's most successful leisure facilities, attracting more than 304,000 visits per year and generating £834,000 in income. But it still depends on a net subsidy of £782,000-per-year to stay afloat.
Officers hope adding a new pool will boost income and secure the pool's long-term future.
Councillor Gwen Hassall, cabinet member for housing and neighbourhoods, warned the development depends on external finance.
She said: "The provision for a new swimming pool at Dimensions is very much a long term plan and the significant investment would have to come from external sources. A lot of preparatory work would have to take place before any plans could be seriously considered, as any development would need to ensure it meets the needs of the community and be sustainable."
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by Munkee17
Friday, February 10 2012, 11:10PM
“I guess I'm left wondering how good a pool you can build that is 25m long and costing 500k. Does it have gold plated tiles in it?”
by stevenweiss
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 10:01PM
“Nothing new here from Stoke Council. If they said they were spending 5 million on solid gold cobblestones outside the Civic Centre, I'd not raise an eyebrow any more.”
by mole10
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 5:02PM
“"To be run more efficiently"
The proof you have for that remark simply does not exist.
Care workers in Centres of Excellence (it's in the name) have nothing at all to do with this Councils debt, this Chief Executives hair brained extra cuts, ludicrous notions of creating employment or unjustified tax-payer grants to private business.
Care workers will lose their jobs with no justification whatsoever.
A Labour Council sacking care worker employees to then employ other workers is simplistic and amateurish claptrap and a pretence at being a big employer player in a recession hit Country.”
by paulmogan
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 4:54PM
“Dimensions is one of the city council's most successful leisure facilities.If you take away the subsidy it has an income of just 52K per anum.Says everything about council run ventures!”
by MrEneoda
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 2:54PM
“Dimensions could then become the 'Fenton Manor' for the north of the City ..... and it would be much cheaper to run than several smaller facilities ....
And like many other areas it could be jobbed-off into a trust - or to the private sector - to be run more efficiently ... like care homes ..... schools ..... council-housing ... and plenty more besides .....
Or would that be a bit too-much like real-life - in a real City for most you?”
by watchword
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 1:57PM
“Smacks of the council using the private sector to provide services that they should be providing and probably at increased commercial rates!!”
by BinDiver
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 1:34PM
“The council first wants to close the splash pool, changes its mind, then closes two swimming pools, then decides to then splash out on a new pool at Dimensions. There's nothing like consistency in one's approach, and this is nothing like consistency. No wonder people have no faith in Jonny van lar-de-Dah.”
by mole10
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 12:22PM
“This Labour Council is puddled.
It has no idea of what a consultation is, it has lost its way and has no idea what we really want.
This Council annoys us with uncosted daft ideas and intends to shut care homes with no justification to do so.
Go away.”
by dusty2011
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 12:19PM
“What a disgrace, this council are way beyond belief. I can think of much better ways of spending this money. Why couldn't the council use this money to revamp shelton pool. This was the only pool in this city that benefits people with arthritis and lot of disabled people benifit fromshelton pool. Words fail me.”
by I_Norris
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 12:09PM
“While our council pay out good money to mouthball Tunstall Pool, they stick £500,000 under the mattress in hope someone (who is not mo chaudry) gives them £6.5 M.
Im wirh lagu use it to reopen Tunstall stop wadting money keeping it closed.
Dont sit on it while you close our services”