Plans for a new leisure centre to be built on a park in Lichfield will take a step forward if councillors approve plans for the land to officially earmarked for the scheme.
Lichfield District Council has identified Stychbrook Park as the location of the long-term replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre.
A report to a meeting of the local authority’s cabinet is asking for the land to be formally put forward for the development.
“Stychbrook Park has been identified as the preferred site for the proposed new Lichfield leisure centre.
“In accordance with Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972, Lichfield District Council is required to appropriate the public open space before any development can proceed.
“The appropriation is a separate process to planning approval and is required to be completed ahead of any planning application. Once appropriated, the council could then make a planning application to develop a leisure centre on the site.
“The planning application will include a further consultation exercise and allow for a fuller examination of some of the issues.”
Report to Lichfield District Council’s cabinet
The council said it had only seen 118 responses to a six-week consultation over the formal proposal to use the site – significantly below the 1,500 who responded to a consultation over the future of Beacon Park’s golf course.
Of those, 84 objected to the use of Stychbrook Park, while 17 supported it and the same amount were seeking more information.
A task group meeting in March said that, despite local objections, the scheme should progress.
“Substantial open space will remain”
The report to cabinet added:
“It was felt that the number of objections were outweighed by the resident benefit delivered by a leisure centre.
“It was further considered that many of the objections were extraneous to the appropriation of the site, but will be carried forward to any subsequent planning process where they will be fully explored and resolved.
“While an area of Stychbrook Park will be lost in order to build a new leisure centre, substantial open space will remain.
“The existing children’s play area will remain along with wooded areas and other grassed areas. The adjacent Christian Fields will be unaffected and still provide local residents with amenity green space within a ten-minute walk distance.
“A new leisure centre will deliver a step-change in physical activity provision for residents. Only through providing a network of excellent quality facilities, can we encourage residents to make positive choices relating to their leisure time.”
Report to Lichfield District Council’s cabinet
The cabinet meeting to discuss the issue will take place on 10th May.
