Plan B or not Plan B? That is the question being asked about the future of the Castle Sports Complex.
The Spalding leisure centre is waiting to hear if it’s been successful in a £20m bid for Levelling Up funding submitted two Prime Ministers ago, in August.
Spalding and Peele Leisure Centre’s performance were discussed by South Holland District Council’s Performance Monitoring Panel last week where Coun Simon Walsh asked for a yes or no answer as to whether there was a plan B as the Levelling Up funding “may now be doubtful”.
Phil Perry, the assistant director of leisure and culture, answered: “Yes, we will have to give consideration to what the council wishes to do should the bid be unsuccessful.”
Coun Walsh responded: “If you say it will be looked at, it gives the impressive it isn’t being looked at now.
“I think very worthwhile that someone is actively working on a plan B.”
Mr Perry said it was something colleagues would need to look at.
“We don’t know the outcome of the Levelling Up bid.
“My colleagues know plan B is something we have had to look at and discuss as a way forward and they will be doing the work,” he said. “I don’t know what they’ve done and I’m here to report on quarter one. I’m sure if it changes more information will come forward.”
Operators Parkwood have been put on formal notice by the council over staffing issues.
Even before Castle Sports Pool was closed for around three weeks in August following flooding it had three full and 19 partial closures from April to June.
Peele had also one full closure and nine partial.
Mr Perry also said four investigations were ongoing into issues relating to water quality, but that Parkwood was disputing the claims.
At both Castle Sports Centre sites, participation was up in the last year and nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Concern was expressed though, that usage at the Peele Leisure Centre in the most recent figures for April to June, was down this year compared to last year by 110 and 4,452 pre-pandemic
There are four investigations relating to water quality that Parkwood was disputing.
Mr Perry said Parkwood was contracted until 2026 but there was a break clause.
He also said the leisure provision across the entire South and East Lincolnshire Local Partnership was continuing to be looked at throughout this financial year.
