Shaping up for £9m investment

7:15am Thu Jan 12, 2012

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A proposal to build a multi-million pound leisure centre in Bingham has been approved.

The £9m investment is part of a Rushcliffe Borough Council strategy to improve leisure facilities by 2016.

The Bingham centre would be one of three flagship leisure facilities in the borough, along with Rushcliffe Arena and East Leake Leisure Centre.

Bingham town and Rushcliffe borough councillor Mr Francis Purdue-Horan was a member of the strategy’s working group.

He said: “Local councillors have fought hard for the town to have a flagship facility as three or four years ago there was no guarantee to provide Bingham with a new centre at all.

“Although the existing leisure facilities are being used the best they can, they have their limitations.

“This strategy is very exciting and a new centre would be an asset to the town.”

A site has yet to be found. However, one suggested location is to the north of the town where a 1,000-home development is earmarked.

The borough council is looking at including a community hall within the new leisure centre.

The Mayor of Bingham, Mrs Maureen Stockwood, said the proposal took the town council a step nearer to achieving that long-term goal.

“We know the condition of the current leisure centre leaves a lot to be desired,” she said.

“I am excited about the prospect of a new leisure centre as well as the possibility of fulfilling the dream of having a community centre in the town. It is a positive step forward.”

The current leisure centre on The Banks is shared with Toot Hill School.

In the next financial year the borough council is set to spend £213,000 subsidising the centre, making it the second most expensive to run in Rushcliffe.

It has been proposed it could eventually be closed to the public and given to the neighbouring Toot Hill School.

Deputy head Mr Rob Whiteley said while that seemed a generous gesture, the cost of maintaining it would be prohibitive as the school could not use it to generate substantial revenue.

“At a time when the Government has announced funding for a community sports club at every secondary school in England, it is surprising to learn of proposals to move the leisure facilities away from the school site,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem logical on one level to attempt to give greater access to school sports facilities, while at the same time re-locating the facilities some considerable distance from the school.

“Toot Hill School is situated on a 50-acre site where there is scope for future building development.

“I am delighted that there is to be an investment in new leisure facilities for the town, however, I can only hope that the school will be consulted and involved in any future developments.”

The strategy states that as an outline the new centre would include a swimming pool, health and fitness facilities and a sports hall.

Bingham town councillor Mr Paul Abbey, a coach for the Sunrise Badminton Club that uses the current leisure centre on a weekly basis, hoped sports groups would be consulted.

“It would be nice for sports clubs and groups to put a claim on any possible room or space in the new centre,” he said.

“It would have to tick all the boxes and be in a location accessible by all bodies.

“The current building has passed its sell by date and is ready for retirement.”

The current leisure centres are managed by a private company on behalf of the borough council. As part of the strategy the council will consider handing over the management of the Cotgrave and Keyworth centres to community groups.