Work starts on Godalming's new leisure Centre

Work has now started on Godalming's new state of the art leisure centre following full approval of the planning application in March.

The centre is for completion by November 2012 and will feature a:

• 25 metre, six lane swimming pool
• Learner pool
• Fitness suite with up to 60 stations
• Multi-purpose dance and indoor sports area
• Café and viewing area

Work to date is progressing well with ISG the main contractor on target for a November 2012 opening.

We at Sport Godalming are delighted that the project has broken ground after many long years of campaigning for it. We will be tracking progress and look forward to its opening in 2012 as well as celebrating our Go for Gold athletes.

FOLLOW THE CENTRE'S PROGRESS ON OUR PICTURE PAGE HERE

History of the project

Prior to carrying out the planned refurbishment of £2.6m Waverley have undertaken a range of surveys and whilst the building is currently in a safe condition the fabric of the building is in a considerably worse state than envisaged and the mechanical and electrical equipment is at risk of failure on a greater scale than predicted. There are also major concerns about the pool tank and the mechanical and electrical equipment. As a result Waverley have decided to cancel the planned refurbishment and to build a new leisure centre.

It is understood that a working group, including Sport Godalming,will be established to discuss the new build with a view to completion within 5 Years. Sport Godalming ,and surely the Godalming community as a whole, welcomes the new build proposal and will be happy to participate in future discussions towards the long awaited new leisure centre for Godalming.

The site selected by the Council is at Broadwater Park between the tennis club and the road where there were two grass tennis courts and currently a multi use games area that will be repositioned in the Park. This site will enable the existing centre to continue to be used whilst the new one is being built that is so important for the existing community users and the two swimming clubs. The leisure centre will include two pools, a 60 station fitness centre, a dance studio and cafe and will surely be appreciated by all users as a modern high class facility. The necessary planning application will be made in December and the building project will be about 15 months.

Our Comment on Leisure Centre Proposals

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.

Final Outcome

'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.