Existing provision at other locations means there is not a pressing need to have a sports hall as part of the new Lichfield leisure centre development, councillors have been told.
A meeting of Lichfield District Council’s cabinet approved plans to commit £10million fund the long-term replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre at Stychbrook Park.
The new facility will include elements such as a swimming pool and a gym, but there will be no provision for a sports hall.
But Cllr Andy Smith, cabinet member responsible for leisure, said that it was not a key requirement for the development.
“Friary Grange Leisure Centre will be handed back to the school and they will still be operating the sports hall and that will be open to the public.
“In addition, King Edward VI School’s sports hall is also open to the public, so the provision [for such facilities] is most definitely there already.
“We need to be realistic. This is a big chunk of money for a district council to find so we’ve prioritised on the biggest need which is the swimming provision that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the city.
“We will monitor sports hall and squash court usage. Because of the modular design, when more funding becomes available then we can add those on as needed.”
Cllr Andy Smith, Lichfield District Council
The meeting was also told that residents would be able to “get their trunks on” in December 2024 when the new facility is expected to open to residents.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, added that the work carried out to find funding to allow the development of the Stychbrook Park scheme to go ahead was drawing envious glances from other parts of the country.
The local authority stepped in to find the funding for the project after missing out on Levelling Up funding for it.
“We’ve had national interest from other councils about how we are achieving this and to understand how we can do it so quickly.
“It is testament to the team getting us this far, this quickly so that we could bounce back after the Levelling Up funding disappointment.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
But isn’t that like saying there is a swimming pool at David Lloyd’s gym so we don’t need a Council operated one? I thought the point was that it was all under one roof as an all-singing all-dancing leisure centre? Like the vast majority of other areas have. If I wanted to take the kids to 5-a-side football and then a swim afterwards I’d need to leave and go to a different venue, which isn’t very sustainable or convenient.
If you want this leisure centre to be well used it needs to have more for families, i.e. water slides, learner pool, cafe, soft play etc. Otherwise it will be an expensive waste of money because most people won’t bother with it.
Done quickly??? Oh my days. I’ve heard it all now. Deluded doesn’t do it justice!
A leisure centre without a sports hall is not a key requirement (in narnia). Beyond belief the leisure provision is going to be on two different sites one of which is part of the existing site. Following this argument why do they need a gym at the new site as there are two on Eastern Avenue and one on Crossfield Road. They could take over the failed swim centre. Maybe the Friary will be competitor, that would be laugh.
Basically the DC does not have enough financial clout to deliver a proper centre with a full range of services. So it struggles on in order to be seen to be doing something even though all the world can see it is the wrong offering at the wrong site. Totally typical of how the public sector and vain local politicians waste money and deliver sub optimum outcomes. The only way for change is to vote for something different in May.
RFW have you written to Doug Pullen with your concerns? I have, and you make some excellent points. You should make them know to LDC. Totally agree with you. Waste of money.
No point contacting Cllr Pullen or LDC Cllrs as they never listen. Over 400 people have told them via a petition that we don’t want this on a green field site in a residential area, yet here we are. Not a single Cllr has taken any interest in speaking to residents door to door. They even shoved a flyer around about preserving green spaces!!!
I am struggling to find space at Burntwood Leisure centre to book the sportshall for Pickleball sessions . We have the demand but not enough court availability.. With no sportshall it is only going to limit so many sports that need indoor facilities