March 4, 2019 9.22 am This story is over 60 months old

New leisure centres coming to Stamford and Market Deeping

Two new centres have been announced
Artists' impression of new Market Deeping leisure centre. Picture: South Kesteven District Council.

Two new leisure centres are set to be built in South Kesteven under new plans outlined by the local authority.

South Kesteven District Council announced the proposals which will see two new builds in Stamford and Market Deeping.

The announcement also included a refurbishment of Bourne Leisure Centre, as well as major improvements to facilities in Grantham.

The council wants all four leisure centres to be community hubs for health and leisure, providing services such as physiotherapy, GP referrals, and stop smoking programmes.

The new centres come as part of the authority’s regeneration plans.

New leisure centre proposals for South Kesteven.

Council leader Councillor Matthew Lee said the proposals will help improve physical and mental wellbeing, as well as providing “first class leisure centres”.

“I want our leisure centres to go beyond gyms and studio classes,” he said.

“As important as these are, I want to provide facilities that become community hubs, with something for everyone, and a focus on overall health and well-being. That includes providing activities in our rural communities.

 “The current leisure centres in South Kesteven’s four market towns have received basic maintenance, but there hasn’t been any major investment for decades and little, if any, outreach provision in rural communities. 

“This is something I am determined to change, providing modern facilities for current and future generations that meet the needs of changing communities.”

New Stamford Leisure Centre visual. Picture: South Kesteven District Council.

The council has identified potential sites for the new leisure centres in Stamford and Market Deeping and talks with those landowners are underway. 

The proposal for Bourne Leisure Centre includes a £5 million remodel and refurbishment which would double the size of the gym, create more studios, and provide better café facilities. 

In Grantham, the council is considering bringing wet leisure facilities back into the town centre, but leaving the stadium, pitches and car parking at the Meres site, as part of a wider regeneration programme centred around Grantham town centre.

The council’s recently appointed sports development officer, Dominic Fieldhouse, will be delivering a new sports strategy through the Council’s economic and regeneration company, InvestSK.

Mr Fieldhouse said he was excited to be working on such an ambitious project that put residents’ health and well-being front and centre of plans.

He said: “The new facilities will transform the way sport and activity is provided in the district, offering opportunities for the whole community. They will create high quality environments for people to enjoy which ultimately helps them to become more active and healthier.

“We will engage with the community and organisations who use, or want to use, our leisure centres to ensure that we provide the facilities that our residents value.”

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from our coverage every week and insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.