South Staffordshire leisure centres to receive £2.4m boost
Leisure centres across South Staffordshire are set to be refurbished and improved as part of a £2.4m project.
South Staffordshire Council has given the green light for the investment, which will see leisure centres at Penkridge, Codsall, Cheslyn Hay and Wombourne revamped.
Additional car parking is being proposed, as well as the development of a 3G sports pitch for Wombourne Leisure Centre.
Council officers have also been given the go-ahead to complete a feasibility study on the future of Penkridge’s swimming pool.
Councillor Mary Bond, cabinet member for community services, said: “Membership is currently at the highest level we have ever achieved. In the last 10 years it has increased by 49%.
“But the leisure centres have reached a stage where investment is necessary to prevent loss of members and loss of income. The leisure industry is a competitive industry – members expect high quality facilities and surroundings.
“All four centres need refurbishment and improved car parking. At Codsall we need to convert the once popular squash courts.
“Finally, we need to look at the feasibility of replacing the swimming pool at Penkridge and this is a request for funding to carry out all works.”
The council manages each leisure centre but the buildings are owned by Staffordshire Council or school academies on a 125-year lease, a report to Tuesday’s full council meeting said.
It added: “In their current condition our facilities are adequate for school use but are now beginning to fall short on public expectations. Schools and academies are unlikely to provide significant investment in centre upgrades and it would be for the council, along with grant funding, to drive the enhancement of service and facility development.
“In the recent customer survey 30% of respondents have stated that they have considered leaving the facilities, compared to 18% in 2016/17 and 16% in 2015/16. We believe this increase is due to declining facilities and can be evidenced from comments in the latest survey.
“The objective of the refurbishment is to prevent a reduction in current membership numbers and growing membership where parking issues and interior decoration may have put new members off. It is also assumed that the investment would increase demand for swimming lesson provision by offering improved facilities and parking.
“For refurbishment projects the finance team recommend borrowing over a 10-year period as this would be assumed to be the useful life of the improvements.
“Over the next three years the council needs to give serious consideration if a swimming pool is maintained in Penkridge as without significant investment it becomes an unsustainable proposition and is very likely to incur significant maintenance costs just to keep the pool open.”
