Users of the Castle Sports Complex arguing for more features in the facility under construction say they won’t give up campaigning.
Since the plans were announced over two years ago, a number of residents have questioned why a sauna is not included in the £26m new development, something the existing leisure centre has.
There’s also been concerns over the ‘village-style’ changing rooms which will see individual cubicles (including some with showers) rather than gender specific changing areas.
Linda Brown said: “We’ve been fighting this since the plans were first published.
“We’ve had meetings asking for things like a sauna, but they say no. Why would they build something that’s not as good as the current facilities?
“We will keep on calling for these measures. They put a sauna in the current pool after it was built, so why can’t they do so again?
“If anything it should have more facilities like a health suite with steam room and plunge pool.”
Linda has been joined in the campaigning by fellow Castle Sports Centre user Michelle Hawkins.
“The sauna is really well used and people go there to be sociable,” Michelle said. “I spend about four hours a day there and it’s great for my mental health.
“They don’t know how many people use it as they just put them through as swimmers. Many use it without getting in the pool.”
The pair have also questioned whether the village changing rooms comply with new guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on same sex changing areas. The district council says it does.
A spokesman said: “We recognise the wide range of different facilities that residents wanted to see with the new centre, and have worked hard with users and industry experts to provide a wide range of health, fitness and wellbeing services that will benefit the greatest number of South Holland residents while remaining financially sustainable.
“Whilst there was a desire to include a sauna if possible, it would have required substantial changes to the wider building specification to satisfy fire safety and other requirements. Those changes would have significantly affected the wider building design and resulted in a disproportionate increase in the cost of the project.
“The changing village plans comprise of individual, secure changing facilities that match the modern leisure facility standards and government guidance, whilst providing private, secure and dignified changing facilities for all users.”
