Top council officers have been tasked with the next stage of a review into the future of Spalding’s Castle Sports Complex.
It comes after a leisure task group consisting of eight South Holland district councillors reported to cabinet on Tuesday after visits to five new-build and refurbished centres.
One recommendation was £20,500 be provided to enable a full consultation exercise to be carried out. Users, other residents and businesses would be asked what they would like to see included in future.
Building control manager Phil Adams told the meeting: “Sport England is keen to invest into this area.
“We haven’t identified yet whether it will be a new-build or refurbishment.”
He said the proposed survey would be carried out in all market towns, not just in Spalding, and would be online too. Four focus groups would provide insight and other stakeholders would be interviewed as well.
However, Coun Roger Gambba-Jones felt many answers were already available from a similar exercise a couple of years ago.
Spalding Castle ward member Gary Taylor also felt the money would be wasted.
He said: “I think users would prefer it to be spent on some of the issues they raise such as cleanliness and pool temperature. Could we save some money by doing it [the survey] a different way?”
Council leader Gary Porter suggested a new-build could cost more than £20million and wanted residents to be asked how much more council tax they were would be prepared to pay to fund such a move.
“I don’t think that we should leave people under any illusion that this is a no-cost option,” he added.
He was also concerned that asking people what they would like to see raises expectations too high.
Coun Christine Lawton wondered whether the cheaper option of a new-build without a swimming pool had been considered since “if you live in Gedney it’s not much further to go to Boston”.
Task group chairman Coun George Aley said all options were open but feedback was needed, adding: “It may well be that we suggest that route.”
Opposition leader Coun Angela Newton accused Coun Porter of “plucking a figure out of the air” with £20m. She spoke of the refurbishment at Sleaford pool which cost £2m.
It was agreed that the council’s corporate management team should be next to look at the review.
Coun Porter added: “I can’t see anyone making a decision on this this side of an election as it may be a different administration with its own view.”
The task group’s report noted that the split-site facilities – the 1974 swimming pool in Pinchbeck Road and the main hall in Albion Street – are structurally sound but “not fit for purpose”.
This was taken to task at the meeting and described as “not appropriate language” as the fact the complex was well used demonstrated that it was serving a purpose.
Coun Roger Perkins is on the task group and chairman of Spalding Indoor Bowls Club, which is hosting international finals next year.
He told The Voice: “The premises, although being part of the complex, are most definitely fit for purpose and the club has just spent £10,000 of its own funds upgrading the viewing area and seating.”
