Sport Godalming News -
A new leisure centre for Godalming has been on the agenda since 1999 when a Godalming Leisure Needs Study was undertaken. That led to further evaluations resulting in the rugby club site being identified as the most suitable. However, outline plans indicated that there was insufficient space for a leisure centre, rugby club and associated parking without losing some of the playing area. Just as important the costs of over £10m were considered to beyond the financial resources of Waverley.
The conclusions were to reduce the footprint by separating the wet and dry facilities with the sports hall being at Broadwater School and Godalming College and the pool and fitness centre in Broadwater Park either at the rugby club site or on the existing leisure centre site. This was ultimately confirmed by a further study in 2006 that reviewed leisure centre strategy across the whole of Waverley, Although there were other options available for Godalming residents the consultants concluded that there was a clear strategic commitment, customer demand and political will, supporting the continued provision of a leisure facility in Godalming with the following as a minimum:
- A six lane 25 metre pool with spectator seating
- A teaching pool
- Community health and fitness provision
- Access to a sports hall
The Council accepted this recommendation and are evaluating the option of refurbishing the existing centre and an alternative new build on the rugby club site involving external finance making it an attractive financial package but with space and community facility options to be resolved. The extent of the refurbishment option for the existing building has not been disclosed.
Sport Godalming has throughout this drawn out process maintained that the existing leisure centre was outdated and lacked the facilities to attract family usage and to become the centre for leisure activities in the Town. We therefore were lobbying for a new build with basic facilities to include pools, fitness centre, sports hall and café but not for an upmarket Spectrum type facility. Regrettably, that option had to be revised due to the lack of space and the projected costs so the split of the wet and dry became the only option as there are no other larger areas available in the Town.
We remain in favour of the new build option on the rugby club site provided that it can satisfy the criteria, as the condition of the existing building would need major expenditure to meet the desired standards. We fear that the Council may be attracted to a short term makeover that will not provide a satisfactory outcome for the future generations in Godalming. If this is the proposed plan we will fight for a major refurbishment, not a makeover, of the centre so that it becomes an attractive and up to date facility for family and fitness usage.
We would welcome any views that we can use in our discussions with Waverley and as input to the Godalming Healthcheck.
Updated 23.07.2007
The Surrey Advertiser edition of 13 July reported on the Waverley Borough Council Executive meeting of the previous day under the banner ‘Leisure Centre set for cash injection’ It went on ‘Major improvements to Godalming's ailing leisure centre are in the pipeline thanks to a cash injection of more than £800,000.
The money will come out of a total pot of up to £4 million to refurbish the borough's five leisure centres which has just been recommended for approval by Waverley Council…………..
The agreement to enter the 15 year management contract [with DC Leisure] will terminate parallel discussions the council was having with Guildford Rugby Club and a commercial operator to build a new leisure centre for Godalming…….
The £800,000 will pay for a refurbishment of all the areas open to the public
It will fund repairs to the pool and its roof and improved lighting and shower control units among other improvements’.
‘That's stage one and it can start as soon as possible because the money has been budgeted’, Cllr Steel said ‘when the money for stage two is in place we plan to build a teaching pool and spectator seating at Godalming and open a café there.
We will also improve the car park and renovate the paddling pool at the grounds
It's in a lovely position with lawns going down to the lake and we want to turn it into an A1 destination for sport and leisure’.
It was very disappointing that the new build option had been rejected without further consideration but that has seemed likely for some time. What we found so frustrating was that Waverley would not even commit to doing the whole work now as the improvements were to be deferred to stage two. That work is necessary now and Councils have a habit of never finding the funds as other more pressing expenditure arises. Our share of the pot is not large whilst our need is great so on what criteria is the expenditure being delayed. Also we think that there are design opportunities to make something of the building but they don't seem to have been considered. Hence we wrote to the Surrey Advertiser in theses terms.
A copy of our letter to the Surrey Advertiser can be viewed here.
'WBC has decided to spend £2.6 million on the existing Leisure Centre of which £1 million is for refurbishment and £1.6 million on capital improvements. We welcome that news although it does not include spectator seating or a cafe but WBC say they may follow; we all look forward to seeing the new facelift and improved facilities.
Our plan now is to work with all the partners at Braodwater Park to draw up a master plan for the long term.