Council reveals preferred option for Shrewsbury swimming pool

Shrewsbury Sports Village is the preferred location for new swimming provision in Shrewsbury, it was revealed today.

The Sports Village recommendation has been made following a lengthy public consultation and a detailed evaluation and analysis of seven options: refurbishment of existing Quarry Pool; renovation of existing Quarry Pool; new build on site of the existing Quarry Pool; new build at Clayton Way; new build on land at Ellesmere Road; new build on land at the Shrewsbury Sports Village; and new build on land at Shrewsbury College.

The report to Shropshire Council's Cabinet states that it is the site that has the lowest cost at £149,000 to Shropshire Council over a 25-year period.

A public consultation into future swimming provision in Shrewsbury was carried out between May and October 2015 and over 1900 people took part. The results of the consultation were analysed by an independent specialist company and carefully considered as part of the evaluation on the seven options.

A range of work was carried out to support the public consultation, including a condition survey of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, a detailed needs assessment and study of the seven options by independent specialists Strategic Leisure Ltd, and visits to other councils that have recently built public swimming pools.

Throughout the work there has been ongoing input from Energize – the county sports partnership, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and Sport England. Shropshire Council has also liaised regularly with a number of stakeholder groups, including: Shropshire Disability Network; Shrewsbury Town Council; Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum; and Shrewsbury BID.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“Following a great deal of work over the past two years, and after careful consideration and evaluation of the seven options, the Sports Village has emerged as the location that best meets Shropshire Council’s objectives for future swimming provision in Shrewsbury – including the key factor of affordability. It has therefore been put forward as the preferred, recommended option.

“However, it’s clear from the consultation that the majority of people want swimming provision to remain at the Quarry, and this is why we have given groups and organisations time to come up with their own alternative proposals to retain swimming at this site. We will carefully consider any proposals that they put forward before making a final decision.

“Any proposals put forward would need to meet the council’s vision and priorities for swimming provision in Shrewsbury. They must provide a long-term swimming facility that’s affordable to run both now and in the future, must increase participation in swimming and physical activity, and must be complementary to other leisure facilities in the town.”

If no alternative proposals are submitted that meet Shropshire Council’s requirements, detailed design and feasibility work on the preferred Sports Village approach would be carried out by council officers and the council’s partners.

Construction would take a minimum of 18 months and the opening of any new facility would be unlikely before mid-2019.