Councillors have been told more must be done to explain to residents why a park in Lichfield is the most appropriate site for a new leisure centre.
Lichfield District Council approved the appropriation of Stychbrook Park as the location for the long-term replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre.
The step – which is a regulatory one – will allow the local authority to progress with the proposals ahead of a potential planning application in future.
But Cllr Dave Robertson, Labour member for Curborough, told a meeting of the council that residents were still not hearing answers to why a leisure centre could not be built on other sites across the city.
“I’m on the task group looking at this and I know a lot of work has gone into identifying the most appropriate site.
“But the communications team hasn’t done a good enough job of reaching out to residents, because when things about this are covered in the media there are continual comments underneath about using different sites.
“The primary driver on why we cannot use brownfield sites is a matter of ownership and cost – if we don’t own the site it’s going to make it utterly financially unviable.
“It is vital we reach out to the community to explain why it is going on a space that is currently green.”
Cllr Dave Robertson, Lichfield District Council
A number of other locations have been highlighted by local residents on Lichfield Live, including the former Friarsgate land.
But Cllr Robertson said this site would not be suitable..
“There are significant questions about viability of leisure centre on the Birmingham Road site, not least because it’s in a conservation area and opposite a listed building.
“We are all aware of this, the task group are aware of this, but we have got to do a better job at reaching out to the community to make sure the decision and drivers to put that development on Stychbrook Park is clear.
“No matter how many times I’ve asked for this, it doesn’t appear to have happened – I’ve never seen that work outlining to residents that the reasons we can’t use Birmingham Road site or other sites are down to matters of ownership and affordability.
“There are people who are concerned about green space as we all are, but we do have a response for it that explains how this is very much the least worst option.
“We have to be up front with residents and clear about the reasons we are doing this.”
Cllr Dave Robertson, Lichfield District Council
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader at Lichfield District Council, said that while things could improved, efforts had been made to reach out to residents on the new leisure centre plans.
“We have always got work to do on communications.
“Every four years we get told people have never received a letter even though we’ve put leaflets through their letterboxes.
“It’s always an uphill struggle, but we’ve written to all homes that back on to Stychbrook Park.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
Cllr Pullen: “we’ve written to all homes that back on to Stychbrook Park”. This may explain some of the communication problems. Far more people are concerned with this than those who can see the park from their homes. It’s not just a matter of a bit of noise/inconvenience during construction, it’s a matter of losing a community asset that is used by people from a far wider area.
Given this is an issue that affects everyone in Lichfield and District why not include an information leaflet in council tax bills. Surely this would reach every household under this council?
Absolutely agree with both Carl Sholl & AnnS comments, to think that only the homes that back onto Stybrook park are being affected is ludicrous and really poor from the council. The whole surrounding area needs to be informed as many people from Lichfield use the park, especially dog walkers !
Has any consideration been given to putting the leisure centre on the old Tempest Ford site as there seems to be no decision on what is going there?
So, all residents overlooking the park have be written to? Well, you missed us. We overlook the park and the only communication we have received has been from an opposition group.
So, it appears that the Council have decided that Stychbrook Park is the most appropriate place, while, it seems, most of the population of Lichfield think that it ISN’T the most appropriate place. So, will the Council listen to the majority or ignore our opinions? Just think what the congestion is going to be like in the area- HS2, which is bound to overrun by years, 750 new homes being built via a road that can’t cope with the current level of traffic, and then this swimming pool proposal (it’s not a leisure centre because of it’s limited facilities). Chaos!
Spending this amount of funding is ridiculous, with inflation getting higher the cost of building this site will out weigh any benefit.
People will not be able to visit as they haven’t got the funds for spending.
More waste of tax payers money.
What ever gets built will be a huge disappointment. Guaranteed. They just haven’t got what it takes.
Cllr Robertson: “There are significant questions about viability of leisure centre on the Birmingham Road site, not least because it’s in a conservation area and opposite a listed building.” This is one thing I find baffling. How are lots of houses more appropriate for a “conservation area” than a leisure centre? Burntwood leisure centre is a beautiful building that would fit in anywhere. In fact, sizewise, you could fit two or three in the space on the Birmingham Road site. Mock Georgian houses are brick? Well, the new leisure centre could be brick on the outside if that makes people happy, and made to look convincingly mock Georgian. No-one is thinking of playing fields with stray balls bouncing across the road (there are playing fields and tennis courts in Beacon Park), just all the usual indoor facilities.
The statements from these Councillors just continues to show their total lack of understanding; sitting on groups yet not engaging even when they were starting to look for potential sites. To our knowledge not a single Cllr has been to visit and speak to every resident in the proposed vicinity so Cllrs have again based their findings on their own beliefs and not listened. They appear to think its acceptable to dismiss a site due to its conservation area and listed building (yet were happy to propose a cinema/shopping development?) but it’s satisfactory to consider this leisure centre on a green park in a residential area! Let’s also be clear the only reason the Council did a late letter drop was because so many residents queried why an excavator turned up on site to dig holes!!! They also organised a consultation yet fail to inform or update. Over 400 signatures have told you to fnd another site and that’s all the communication required.
The council should be very careful to avoid building a white elephant in an inappropriate area. This green space (I used to live opposite it) is used for a variety of uses and is the only such area on the North side of the city.
The underlying problem is the voracious use of other sites for their house building mania. There is little contingency in the plans for infrastructure and even this proposal is very understated for a city the size Lichfield is becoming.
It is also a feature that the council pretends to listen to representations from citizens but stick to their plans regardless. This is not representation.
Lastly.. More cities have been created to celebrate the platinum anniversary. One recipient said that their citizens had a very positive attitude to their town and had great report with their council. I would assess ours as being neutral to negative, both to our MP and the District Council. This lack of moral is mostly down to them.
Why don’t you listen for once LDC! Just listen, and you can turn your relationship with Lichfield’s citizens around. This article smacks of yet more arrogance. It’s basically saying we should listen to the Council more. No, they should listen to us more! And understand from us why this site is not appropriate, not the other way around!
We must build a proper leisure centre with a sports hall (not just a swimming pool) and this should go on the Birmingham Road site where it can be accessed by most, not on a park on the edges of the city. Maybe if they didn’t just build houses on every little bit of space in existence they’d be room for some much-needed facilities, without having to use our parks!
Why not build a leisure centre on the golf course at Beacon park which evidently is likely to be closed. Much more land plus existing football pitches there so keeping all leisure facilities together. There just isn’t enough space at Stychbrook Park for a full leisure centre including sports hall etc which is what Lichfield needs. Local people that I know have not been contacted.
Angry as most of FG leisure centre users arrive by car where are they going to park by the “disused”golf course
We back on to the park and have had no correspondence at all. I find it hard to believe a word the council say now!