November 26, 2018 4.51 pm This story is over 64 months old

£6.3m leisure centre plan submitted without swimming pool

Campaigners are not happy
An artist's impression of the new dry leisure facility.

West Lindsey District Council lodged plans for a £6.3 million leisure centre in Market Rasen despite calls from campaigners for an additional swimming pool.

Dubbed a “dry leisure facility”, the move comes as part of a wider investment of £7.8 million in facilities across the district.

But campaigners said a swimming pool was a “higher priority”.

The new facility would be built off Gainsborough Road in the village and will include a 3G pitch, fitness and dance suite, as well as a sports hall.

Meanwhile, the council said Everyone Active will run the centre after leaving their current site at Aston Sports Centre.

Market Rasen Town councillors have said the centre is a “fantastic opportunity for the area.

Yet campaigners from Market Rasen Action Group lodged a 2,000 signature petition to the district council opposing the plans.

The group called on the authority to build a swimming pool in the town.

June Clark gives her statement on the residents’ petition.

Recently-elected Rasen town councillor and group secretary June Clark told the district council that residents had not been consulted on the plans.

She said: “Residents were understandably very upset that there had been no consultation about the new facility and the fact there was no mention of a swimming pool.

“Although we agree that dry facilities are needed, a swimming pool is seen as a higher priority.”

However, councillors rejected the petition and council leader Jeff Summers said the proposal would require “significant subsidy”.

He added that a consultation had taken place and that a pool would be “unsustainable”.

The application for the leisure centre will be decided by the local authority at a later date.

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