Residents attend first public consultation on new Grimsby Leisure Centre
THE prospect of glimpsing a princess was not enough to stop concerned residents from attending a public consultation on the proposed design of the new Grimsby Leisure Centre.
A steady stream of interested members of the public attended the first of four sessions, which was held at Grimsby's Central Library.
As reported, the £8.4-million pool in Cromwell Road will eventually replace Grimsby Swimming Pool (Scartho Baths), which more than 9,500 people signed a petition to save after the closure was announced.
Those attending the meeting were not afraid to pull any punches when it came to expressing their views – chief of which were their beliefs that NELC is planning to build the facility in the wrong place and is failing to listen to their views.
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No one could miss Stuart Jaffray, who was sporting his 'protest hat' made of Save Scartho Baths posters.
He said: "It's about the money it's costing – who is going to pay for this?
"It's also out of the way. It's a long way from the car park to the door, which is no good for those who have disabilities.
"I can't criticise how it looks though, it looks good."
Chris Muir, of Grimsby, said: "I don't necessarily have reservations about getting a new pool – it's where it's being sited."
She added the cost of building the facility was also an issue – particularly at a time when the council is trying to save money.
"If money is that tight, why not refurbish Scartho Baths for £2 million. That will give it another 15 years of life.
"The financial position will then be a bit better."
Mrs Muir said she was also concerned about the "dilapidated" state of the rest of the Cromwell Road centre – adding the last time she had visited the centre with her 18-month-old granddaughter, it had been "a dump".
Sue Matthews, also of Grimsby, said one of her major concerns was the lack of access and public transport to the Cromwell Road site – particularly after 7pm.
She said: "During the day there are buses every 15 minutes, if you go into town or Dudley Street. After 7pm, there is only one an hour."
She also questioned what would happen to the old Scartho Baths site if the current building was developed.
Mark Cullum, a project manager for sport and leisure with NELC, was on hand to field questions and encourage people to give their feedback.
He explained if the Scartho site was demolished, it would be down to NELC's asset management team to decide how the land was used.
Speaking about the event, he said: "We started at noon and we have had a lot of interest.
"People here are passionate about leisure, and that's great."
He added the aim of the events were to collect as many views as possible to be taken into consideration before a formal planning application is considered.
The consultation moved to Cleethorpes Leisure Centre later in the day – see tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for coverage.
Have your say
Further consultation events will be held today. The first, at Scartho Baths, is from noon to 3pm, followed by a second session at Grimsby Auditorium, Cromwell Road, from 5pm to 8pm. If you cannot attend any of the sessions, you can give your views online at www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/sport-and-leisure until Friday, March 13. Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for updates.
10 Comments
by GRIM_oldie
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:52PM
“First, Trish, your duplicates. It SEEMS to be a fault in TIG/GT's system. It happens to many people.
Second, everything you say is deserving of ramming down the council's throats in triplicate.
I'll probably get barred for that, but who cares? Nobody listens!”
by TLeaning
Friday, March 15 2013, 10:35PM
“As a regular user of Scartho Baths for the last 40 years, & a frequent attender of the fitness classses held at the Baths, I am so disappointed by the council's decision to close Scartho Baths. I shall be unable to use the proposed new lesuire centre due to its location. The time taken to travel there would make it nearly impossible to attend the classes. After studying the proposed plans I can't see that the new pool would be suitable for fitness swimming/training. We need a proper swimming pool, not a fun pool -we already have one of those @ Cleethorpes lesuire centre.Please listen to peoples' views & reconsider the closure of our valuable pool, otherwise our money will be wasted- people won't use the new centre, it isn't central enough. New isn't always best!
Trish Leaning
now I'm being censored and told my comment isn't valid! whos oppion is that? what a rip -off, what are they scared of?no it's not o.k, what does object doesn't support property or t mean?”
by TLeaning
Friday, March 15 2013, 10:33PM
“As a regular user of Scartho Baths for the last 40 years, & a frequent attender of the fitness classses held at the Baths, I am so disappointed by the council's decision to close Scartho Baths. I shall be unable to use the proposed new lesuire centre due to its location. The time taken to travel there would make it nearly impossible to attend the classes. After studying the proposed plans I can't see that the new pool would be suitable for fitness swimming/training. We need a proper swimming pool, not a fun pool -we already have one of those @ Cleethorpes lesuire centre.Please listen to peoples' views & reconsider the closure of our valuable pool, otherwise our money will be wasted- people won't use the new centre, it isn't central enough. New isn't always best!
Trish Leaning
now I'm being censored and told my comment isn't valid! whos oppion is that? what a rip -off, what are they scared of?”
by TLeaning
Friday, March 15 2013, 10:31PM
“As a regular user of Scartho Baths for the last 40 years, & a frequent attender of the fitness classses held at the Baths, I am so disappointed by the council's decision to close Scartho Baths. I shall be unable to use the proposed new lesuire centre due to its location. The time taken to travel there would make it nearly impossible to attend the classes. After studying the proposed plans I can't see that the new pool would be suitable for fitness swimming/training. We need a proper swimming pool, not a fun pool -we already have one of those @ Cleethorpes lesuire centre.Please listen to peoples' views & reconsider the closure of our valuable pool, otherwise our money will be wasted- people won't use the new centre, it isn't central enough. New isn't always best!
Trish Leaning”
by GRIM_oldie
Thursday, March 07 2013, 3:42PM
“What's all that about 'none so deaf -- or daft -- as WILL NOT hear!!??
"Friday, January 18 2013
Replay: Scartho Baths debate with Martin Vickers MP and Austin Mitchell MP
"Wednesday, January 16 2013
Scartho Baths closure: Local Government Minister urges council to reconsider plans
"Monday, December 31 2012
Scartho Baths closure: Loss of top diving club would be felt very deeply
"Friday, December 14 2012
Rallying call from Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell call as councillors vote to close Scartho Baths"
... AND NO SMALL AMOUNT MORE!!”
by Alan-Barratt
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:25AM
“Please do look at the Burnett , Shaw Master plan on line ! See where YOUR money is going to be wasted!
Shared Male and Female Changing Area? – Clearly an issue for many and a grave concern where child protection is concerned NELC you can't be serious!
And why are the Wet changing rooms on the second floor?
So you want people with wet feet on stairs?
Is this Burnetts better access for the disable, elderly and infirm ?
Have these Architect mates of Burnett and Shaw, ever designed a pool before or just house extensions and conservatories? – Villas in Spain ??
Also can NELC tell us just how much of the taxpayer purse have you blown on the 3D model ?
We deserve Better!
Save Scartho Baths”
by stujaffray
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:23PM
“I attended all four sessions , the concensus seems to be that it is being built at the wrong location , inaccessible to users .The council's labour administration just will not listen to public The opinion , their electorate are being ignored at their peril.It's time they held a public meeting ! Save The Baths Group have presented the council with options for the refurbishment of Grimsby Swimming Pool which now provides for facilities that the proposed new pool will not have . In times of austerity the ratepayers would prefer to defer building a new pool until it is more viable . Add to our petition count at savescarthobaths.com , the council do keep an eye on that site , as we are proving to be a nuisance to the dictatorship !”
by accamacca
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 3:49PM
“Just made the effort and went to Scartho baths to look at the model of the proposed new pool to be built at the liesure centre......right in front of the existing entrance on cromwell rd.
The architect who came up with the design was speaking more than the councillors present.
I have to say he was talking as though this is a cast iron done deal. Anything critical that was said just seemed to be ignored. The design of the new pool is absolutely awful, and i told them so....a concrete and glass box. As expected attendance was poor due to the fact it was mid-week and when people wherer at work.
I am so ashamed to be served by this council which i may add i voted for...Never again.
Peter McDonald - Scartho, Grimsby.”
by DannyWilde
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 2:03PM
“Spot on davendogs”
by davendogs
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:22AM
“The cynic in me believes this timming was not coincidental.”