Council chiefs say additional funding for a new leisure centre in Lichfield will help fund “key improvements” to the original plans.
The new £10million facility is being proposed at Stychbrook Park to replace the ageing Friary Grange Leisure Centre.
An update on changes to Lichfield District Council’s medium term financial strategy to meet the projected costs of the development were heard behind closed doors at a meeting of the local authority earlier this month.
But notes from a meeting of a task group on the leisure centre have now revealed that the plans were “currently over budget” and that an additional £300,000 was now needed.
However, a spokesperson for Lichfield District Council said that the extra funding was to pay for additional features not originally proposed for the development rather than an increase to existing costs.
“The original budget was set based on a similar leisure build project in Rainham in Kent.
“Since the build was approved by full council, extensive consultations with residents and user groups have taken place and through these and the planning process, several key improvements to the original specification have been proposed which has led to an increase in overall costs.
“Examples of these improvements include a substantially larger car park with electric charging points, a café instead of a vending machine and a community hall.
“We are currently in commercial discussions with the contractor to finalise all costs and once these details are confirmed, we will be able to provide a full update to residents to highlight the improvements that are being proposed.”
Lichfield District Council spokesperson
The task group notes explain how changes may be needed due to the Rainham model being gas-powered and lacking sufficient car parking spaces.
It also said that members had been reassured that the budget should not need to increase any further going forward.
“It was confirmed any additional costs would be borne by the contractor not Lichfield District Council.”
Leisure centre task group notes
Cllr Sue Woodward, leader of the Labour opposition group said it was important the plans to increase the budget – and the reasons for doing so – were fully examined.
“While no-one wants to delay a leisure centre for Lichfield, we have to make sure that costs don’t exceed available funds, especially as there are many other calls for funding across the whole district.
“That’s why the overview and scrutiny committee will be looking in detail at how every extra pound is to be spent, where it will come from and the impacts of any additional spend on other projects and services.
Cllr Sue Woodward
The task group updates will be put to the meeting of Lichfield District Council’s overview and scrutiny committee meeting on 6th June.
in 1 word “incompetence”
What this leisure centre is crying out for is a sports hall, not a community hall! Thus bringing it into line with every other leisure centre in the country. Currently it’s just a swimming pool with a gym. Why can’t we have a proper leisure centre with a sports hall? Can any councillor please explain?
What this leisure centre needs is NOT TO BE BUILT AT ALL! We don’t need a half baked centre but a centre that meets the needs of the community. It’s in the wrong place to have all the facilities needed as it isn’t a big enough space.
Answer is easy. Scrap it.
Wrong site, wrong contractors, most public don’t want it and finally completely overpriced.
Currently Lichfield has many leisure centres and sports halls that are already under private ownership, so why are you wanting to build more? This proposals would be less that currently being offered from our centres across Lichfield. Smells more like just your wanting to splash the cash on your own time and art drawings. Current ones need upgrades that are fit for purpose, not demolishing. Quit wasting money on yourself and wasted mock ups, that’s public taxpayers money you’re playing with.
This is a very sorry scheme for the residents surrounding this green parkland space. To say ‘extensive consultation with residents’ is an insult to democracy. One badly written letter shoved through the door and a session at the Guildhall with not a single Councillor attending for the duration. Are these Councillors completely deluded in the issues this location will impose on residents. The environmental and health impacts alone (especially from 3/4/5G pitches) should be enough to tell them this is the wrong location. The need for this facility, but as a proper leisure center is vital, but not in this location and not at the expense of residential wellbeing. With all these new housing estates being built why not allocate an area away from residents and place a clause on the developer to contribute to a full facility. It happens elsewhere but of course not with these incompetent Councillors.
It might seem to be a simple expedient to make the contractor responsible for any overspend but if the costs means they will incur a loss then they may as well abandon the project. As anyone knows who has had building done you have to have a contingency. Have they learnt nothing from Friasgate?
I suspect this facility is too small and in the wrong situation. There are many better places in and around Lichfield but it seems obvious the council would sooner reserve these for more housebuilding.
It occurs to me that we need better town planners.
One way to fund leisure/health centres is to recognise the health damage done by large fast food outlets like KFC, McDonalds etc and apply a community tax on them as part of the permission to build. This could be a one off payment of say, £250K by way of applying balance between the sale of fat and sugar and the downside of obesity.
Got to wonder why they’ve not looked at the bomb-site next to Trent Valley Station! Plenty big enough for a leisure facility, close to public transport. Not too close to residential, so fewer complaints on noise, pollution.
Should be built on one of the many areas of disused scrap land around the city instead of ruining one of the few nice quiet green spaces in the area that used by many locals daily . Council said “oh but the line of trees will still be there” yeahhh that will be fun wont it with this eyesore noise and its floodlights in front of them
Cllr SW is right to illuminate inefficiency in running a budget but wrong to target sports facilities. Lichfield is already god’s waiting room and orientated far too much to the interests of older people.
so levelling up money was declined. council will find the money themselves. thats really good of them to spend our money on another over budget overpriced profiteered scheme.