Doubts over plan for leisure centre (From Thisisdorset)

Doubts over plan for leisure centre

9:48am Tuesday 19th December 2006 in

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A QUESTION mark hangs over ambitious plans for a new North Bournemouth leisure centre and swimming pool after the council was warned it may not be able to afford the scheme.

The viability of the centre hinged on selling off the current site of Kinson Swimming Pool for development.

But councillors will be told on Wednesday that it is "very unlikely" homes would be allowed on the site of the old swimming pool.

The site is within 400 metres of Kinson Common and a residential scheme would be likely to be scuppered by new policies proposed by conservation body Natural England.

This threatens both "the level and the timing of the planned capital receipt from the sale of the existing Kinson Swimming Pool site", a report to the council's cabinet says.

The leisure facilities would be phase two of a project called the North Bournemouth Centre.

Phase one includes the creation of an integrated Kingsleigh Primary School and the upgrading of nearby allotment land.

The money will come from the sell-off of other allotment land at Priestley Road.

An application to build 63 homes there went before planners on Monday.

The leisure centre would include a six-lane, 25-metre pool, a learner pool with moveable floor, an aerobic/dance studio, a gym and a café/reception area which could include a small library.

Hopes that phase one could also accommodate a centre for children with special physical or medical needs have come to nothing because of a lack of money or space, although the council hopes it could be accommodated on the Kings High School site at some time.

The council's "project champion", Cllr Adrian Fudge, said new Natural England guidelines on development near heathland had prompted a rethink in terms of what was permissible on the site.

"We are looking at a number of options but remain fully committed to the scheme," he added.