Improvement works get under way at SpArC Bishop’s Castle Leisure Centre

A series of major improvement works is underway at Bishops Castle Arts and Leisure Centre this week as part of a significant investment in the facilities.

The refurbishment includes two projects: a decarbonisation initiative and a pool refurbishment.

The decarbonisation project will replace the aging and expensive to run oil-fired boiler with an all-electric heating system, significantly reducing carbon emissions by 70% and lowering running costs.

Essential repairs to the building’s roof and the installation of easy access steps will feature in the pool refurbishment, making the facility more accessible, especially for older people, families with babies and toddlers and the disabled.

The cost of these two important improvements is expected to cost £3.939 million, with funding coming from many different sources including £2.454 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, £680,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy, £505,000 from the council’s capital repairs budget and £250,000 donated by the Trustees of the Bishop’s Castle Save the SpArC charity which has been raised by the local community..

Cllr James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for leisure, said:

“I am delighted how this project has been driven by such brilliant local support and fundraising, and enabled through partnership working between various groups and Shropshire Council. This really is a model of how we wish to go on with our community facilities, not just protecting them but enhancing them with local partnerships.”

Ruth Houghton, Shropshire’s Councillor for Bishop’s Castle, added:

“This is wonderful news for Bishop’s Castle and South West Shropshire. At the end of this project Bishop’s Castle will have a pool that will be more cost effective to operate and accessible for all”

“Our small local community has really stepped up to support the leisure centre and swimming pool  by raising thousands of pounds to keep  the centre open  and to  make improvements to  it.  The swimming  pool was originally built by public subscription just over 50 years ago. It first opened in 1974 and was a huge success and has served the community well during this time.   This  pool project has been made possible by this same  community support and commitment to securing  local services in Bishop’s Castle for residents across South West Shropshire”

Heather Kidd, trustee and Leader of Shropshire Council, added: “This is such a good example of how housing development money, grant funding and the local community rising to the challenge can make such a difference. I am proud to be a trustee.”