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Babergh District Council’s Strategy Committee has given the thumbs up both to a study into the condition of the existing swimming pool tank and into a possible additional leisure facility in the town.
Accepting the recommendations of an officer report that the costs of a brand new 25m six lane pool are just not affordable, Councillors agreed to commission the two reports to run, if possible, in parallel.
The aim of the first is an engineering assessment into the remaining life expectancy of the concrete pool tank. This will form the basis for Councillors deciding whether to sanction a refurbishment of the 30-year old facility or not. There are concerns that such a refurbishment may not be prudent or feasible should the condition of the tank be unsatisfactory.
The second aims to sketch out both the feasibility of building a community building near to the site of the existing pool and the types of leisure functions such a building could contain. This facility – if approved – could operate both alongside a refurbished pool or on its own - if a decision has to be taken to phase-in a closure of the pool.
There will need to be consultation on the facilities to be provided in any such new leisure building.
According to Cllr. Nick Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee “the aim of these two studies is to establish once and for all a comprehensive blueprint for the future of Hadleigh’s leisure facilities”.
The recommendation not to proceed with a 25m six lane pool will be considered by a meeting of the full Council.
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