Newark and Sherwood District Council cabinet approves plans for new £5.5m pound Southwell Leisure Centre and swimming facilities to replace closed leaking Southwell pool

Plans for new multi-million pound swimming facilities to replace an aging and leaky pool have been given the go-ahead.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Cabinet met on Tuesday night, December 19, to discuss a report into the main pool at Southwell Leisure Centre, on Nottingham Road, which when tested was found to have leaked 26% of it’s water in a two week period.

Plans to build new swimming facilities in a new, modern £5.5m leisure centre were approved after it was determined that the existing pool and it's continued maintenance would prove too costly and inconvenient in the long-term.

The current main pool was closed in October while it underwent tests during a four week period and it was determined that the aging and rusting pipework of the 1960s facility was to blame for the dramatic loss in water.

Following this initial investigation phase the decision was made to close the pool as plans were drawn up about it’s future and possible repairs.

A number of options were put forward, varying considerably in cost, such as a lining the pipework as a temporary fix for £50,000, or replacing the pipework completely as well as relining the pool for £650,000 — which would have resulted in a 12 month closure.

Ultimately it was recommended that a new £5.5m facilty be build, with new main and training pools and that during the construction of this new building, the existing learner pool would remain in operation so that amenities would not be lost.

The council’s chief executive, John Robinson, provided additional context to the recommendations, saying: “The annual Swim England report — the sport’s governing body — estimate that by the end of this decade the number of swimming pools in the country will drop by approaching 2,000.

“It cites two main reason for this. The recovery from the pandemic and the associated running costs, but also the fact that many of the pools were built in the 60s and 70s and haven’t been refurbished at the sufficient rate, which is very much the situation we find ourselves in.

“What we are proposing to do is bucking that national trend because it’s not about closing the pool, this is about providing a new pool.”

Lee Brazier, said: “Ollerton had the misfortune of being without a pool for four years, and that had a huge impact.

“So for us to be on the ball with getting these plans coming forward is really positive and shows a commitment from the entirety of our council to the people of Southwell and the surrounding villages.

“I think the key message is that we are not closing the leisure centre. The dry side will still be there, the training pool with still be there, there will still be an offer of leisure within Southwell.

“We are committed to providing a true leisure facility, that is modern and fresh and will be there for the next 60 years.”

The pool has also been subject to a petition from residents concerned about its future.

Council leader, Paul Peacock, said: “We acknowledge the concerns of local people to losing their pool — that is one of the reasons we are moving so quickly in replacing it.

“We will be holding a public meeting once we have more plans.

“Positive informal discussions have already taken place with the leisure centre trust and neighbouring landowners, and we will pursue this quickly in the New Year.

“We had delays with a replacement pool at Ollerton because of the legal wrangling – we need to make sure that doesn’t happen here.”

The plans for the project — which is expected to take two years to complete — were approved by Cabinet members.