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An architects’ report issued today has revealed the far higher than expected costs of building a new and improved Hadleigh pool. As a result Babergh District Council is calling on its partners in the project, which is tasked with replacing the existing five lane 25m facility, to redouble their efforts in finding extra funding and on agreeing to look in detail at two of the more affordable alternatives.
The report by SMC Charter Architects showed that all of the initial options chosen by both The Hadleigh Pool Steering and Working Groups exceeded the initial estimated figure of £3.25m. The experts looked at these options (each offering extra facilities as compared to the current pool) on both the existing site and the Hadleigh High School campus. Only one of the options – for a 25m pool with an extra lane on the existing site – came out close to the initial figure and then at £4.44m.
A meeting of the two groups on 24th January is being advised to drop the other options, including all of those relating to the school location, as being totally unaffordable.
According to Cllr. Nick Ridley, Chairman of the Hadleigh Pool Steering Group “finding a figure of £3.25m already presented us with a serious enough challenge. Now that we may have to find a further £1.2m for what amounts to an enhanced alternative of a 6 lane, 25m pool, the need for all parties to dig even deeper is even more imperative. We are also asking our partners to consider another alternative which could result in an improved like-for-like replacement of a 5 lane, 25m facility”.
“It is important that we now focus on what is it possible, as opposed to what is merely desirable, to achieve for the people of Hadleigh and the surrounding villages”.
With most residents across the district unwilling to pay for a new pool from above inflation increases in the Council Tax, Babergh has been looking at trying to secure funding from asset sales, including East House and its land adjoining the Brett Works site. It is hoped that Hadleigh Town Council will increase the amount of funding available including the potentially significant sum from the sale of its own land next to Brett Works in negotiations with a potential purchaser.
Once the 24th January joint meeting of the Hadleigh Pool Steering and Working Groups agrees which of the remaining options it wishes to pursue, the consultants will produce more detailed information and are scheduled to report back their findings in the summer this year. ENDS
Backstory
Recent history – The 30-year plus Hadleigh Pool has been the subject of a number of recent surveys and reports. The most recent was as part of Babergh’s 2004 Best Value Review of Cultural Services. This showed that there was a need for a new pool, although it ranked as the third priority in terms of value for money when compared with other leisure issues. These were dual use sports centres and arts development – both of which have received extra funding from Babergh as a result
Funding – As part of Babergh’s 2005 State of the District debate, all residents were asked a series of questions as to the funding of a new Hadleigh Pool by above-inflation Council Tax increases for a period of 60 years.
Over 6000 responses were received, with just 24% indicating that they would be willing to pay more. That figure fell to 18% if such funding would also mean a reduction in resources available for other services.
Members of groups –
Hadleigh Pooling Steering Group comprises four representatives from Babergh District Council and two representatives each from Hadleigh Town Council and South Suffolk Leisure
Hadleigh Pool Working Group comprises representatives from Babergh District Council, Hadleigh Town Council, South Suffolk Leisure, Hadleigh Swimming Club, Suffolk County Council, Babergh Communities Together, Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce, Hadleigh High School, a number of local primary schools, Suffolk PCT and Hadleigh Swimming Pool Users’ Forum.
Click here for Babergh's report into this issue (PDF, 15kb)
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