January 30, 2019 3.56 pm This story is over 62 months old

£6.3m Market Rasen leisure centre set for approval

Protesters called for a swimming pool instead

A new £6.3 million leisure centre in Market Rasen, which would include a 3G football pitch and dance suite, looks set to get the go-ahead.

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

The new centre would be built off Gainsborough Road in the town and host a range of facilities, including a sports hall.

But the plan has been met with backlash from campaigners who said a swimming pool is a “higher priority”.

An artist’s impression of the new dry leisure facility.

Now, councillors on the district council’s planning committee have been recommended to give the proposal the green light.

The plan was announced by the authority last year in a move which was described as a “fantastic opportunity” by Market Rasen Town councillors.

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.

But the petition was rejected by councillors in November 2018 after council leader, Jeff Summers, said the proposal for a pool would require “significant subsidy”.

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

Councillors will hear the plan for the new leisure centre at a meeting on February 6.


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