Early ideas for new multi-million pound Ormskirk and Skelmersdale leisure centres have been shown to West Lancashire councillors by development partners.
West Lancashire Council wants to build two brand new leisure centres in Ormskirk and Skelmersdale and refurbish a third existing venue in Burscough. The combined cost of the schemes could be around £47million, although a variety of figures and options have been discussed. Funding could also be linked to a Levelling-Up bid by the council to the government.
The borough council has appointed a development partner called Alliance Leisure, which is currently working on early ideas for all three sites. Key factors being considered include local public demand for different leisure and sports facilities at different sites, building design, costs, sustainability, benefits for local economies, future operating arrangements and staff training.
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A new Leisure Procurement Committee has been created at West Lancashire Council with representatives of different political groups and Conservative Coun David Westley as chairman. Councillors and officers had an update with the development partners recently.
Council officer Simon Kirby introduced the presentations and said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with people around the table in coming weeks and months. I thought it would be useful to listen to our development partners, who have been appointed by due process, who are looking at the two new-builds and the refurbishment of Burscough.”
The presentations came from James Foley, commercial director of Alliance Leisure, and Peter Curtis, of Hadron Consulting. Alliance Leisure has worked with councils and leisure trusts across the UK on new and existing leisure centres. Examples included gyms, pools and leisure facilities in Oldham and refurbishing the Salt Ayre centre in Lancaster.
Mr Foley began by saying “I was born in Ormskirk hospital and lived in Skelmersdale when I was young, so it is great to be back.”
Explaining Alliance Leisure, he said: “We specialise in new-build facilities and are looking at Ormskirk and Skelmersdale in that context. We have also remodelled existing centres, which relates to Burscough. This is about getting the right profile in the right place with a focus on West Lancashire overall.”
Peter Curtis of Hadron Consulting spoke about building design, construction and sustainable energy systems, along with social and economic aims including public health and leisure, and regeneration of towns.
Local economic benefits, employment and apprenticeships were also important, he said. He was working on a scheme in Harrogate where 50 per cent of investment was going back into the local economy in various ways including apprenticeships and training.
He emphasised the need to consult with the public – existing users and others who could be attracted in future.
At the Ormskirk Park Pool site, he said development partners had looked at the overall location. Factors to consider included flooding issues, access onto a busy road, future car parking and a pond. The new leisure centre would be split into wet (swimming pool) and dry areas, warm and cooler for energy efficiency. The new centre could have a pavilion design with a curved roof, in keeping with the park and other surroundings including a church. Future car parking would include softer green, landscaped areas rather than being one large hard surface.
At Skelmersdale, Mr Curtis said: “Now that Lidl and B&M Bargains have built to the southern side, we are looking at the southern boundaries to improve movement. We plan to keep the new leisure centre on the north side near Asda and have car parking on the south.
“We also might be able to raise the level of the new leisure centre to get views of the Tawd Valley. We will also assess potential mine workings underneath Skelmersdale. The Skelmersdale leisure centre will be simpler in appearance than Ormskirk, partly in-keeping with the wider Skelmersdale town centre and to help with costs. We are looking to include a double-height section in one part with a café and soft-play area.”
Various phases for early designs, user-group consultation, detailed designs and contract pricing are planned. The hope is to open the new leisure centres in spring 2025.
Regarding finances, Conservative Coun David Westley queried whether estimates and potential costs should be discussed in public at the committee meeting, because of commercial sensitivity. Councils can discuss commercial aspects in private, if councillors agree.
However, council officer Mr Kirby said the figures mentioned so far were very general, such as £48million, £28million or £20million. These were ‘high level’ figures.
Labour Coun Carl Coughlan said some figures were already in the public domain and there was a link to a Levelling-Up funding bid to the government. Designs and costs could yet change.
Regarding building designs, Coun Coughlan added; “I like the fact that we are not going for a one-size-fits-all approach. The designs have evolved. And we are looking at different mix of services for different communities. That will help some communities get behind this.”
On regeneration progress in Skelmersdale town centre, he added: “With the early phases of town centre changes, some people has the perception of ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’. Now, they are seeing the first stage of changes. So I think it’s important to capitalise on that feeling with the new leisure centre.
“Consultation is really important to make people feel this is for them. To enhance the relationship with the community. Skelmersdale does not have a swimming team so this leisure centre project is a great opportunity to dovetail that type of need into these designs. We have got a youth zone and a Bannatyne health club. But this leisure centre fits into all that. ”
Future reform of district councils and Lancashire County Council could bring changes to youth or leisure services, he added. That was another consideration for existing and future buildings and activities across the borough.
Our West Lancashire Coun Adrian Owens welcomed the update. It was good to see how things were progressing and to be able to tell the public. But he highlighted soaring energy costs and other inflation.
He said: “We councillors have got to decide if things are affordable. Inflation is is running high and it may be 12 months before a spade hits the ground.”
He asked the development partners for their views on the economic outlook, and about gas, electric and green heating technology.
Mr Foley said inflation trends and other elements were factored-into the costs. Alliance Leisure had an obligation for best value which included costs. He said: “Yes, it is challenging. But we are experienced in costs and affordability.”
Regarding energy sources and heating, he said all options would be looked at, including hybrid gas and electric arrangements, and air source heat pumps. In future, hydrogen could become an option.
He said an Edinburgh leisure centre could save £500,000 simply by lowering its heating temperature by one degree.
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