September 1, 2022 10.37 am This story is over 32 months old

£12m Mablethorpe leisure centre gets go-ahead

“Well overdue” said councillors
The proposed leisure hub at Mablethorpe | Photo: East Lindsey District Council

A new £12 million leisure centre in Mablethorpe has been given the go-ahead.

The Station Sports and Leisure Centre will double as a learning hub and will offer a four-lane 25 metre swimming pool, gym, fitness studios, an adventure play area and a café.

It forms part of a series of multi-million pound projects for Mablethorpe which have received around £23.9 million of Towns Fund investment.

The current leisure centre on Station Road, along with its multi-use games area, will be demolished as part of the plans, which promise “more than just a leisure centre”.

Councillors on East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee gave the plans the go-ahead on Thursday.

Ward Member Tony Howard told members this was the “most eagerly anticipated planning application for Mablethorpe in a generation”.

“People have been looking for this for a long, long time,” he said.

He said the modern look of the building would fit into the area which was “slowly but surely” getting modernised, and looked to reassure people that the facilities lost by the build would be suitably replaced.

He asked for the nearby war memorial to be allowed to continue to be used to allow for various events during the year.

The proposed leisure hub at Mablethorpe | Photo: East Lindsey District Council

Moving for approval, Councillor Terry Aldridge said: “Something like this is well overdue for Mablethorpe and this is a huge asset for the community and visitors that come to the town.”

Sports groups and the town council had backed the plans which started life in 2018 as a refurbishment or extension of the leisure centre.

Designers soon decided that a new build would be the best way to provide needed facilities.

There will be rooms and studios which can be used flexibly for community activities.

The existing car park would be replaced by a new 78-space one, including a number of electric vehicle charging points.

The proposals have been developed by the council, along with Magna Vitae and leisure development specialist Alliance Leisure.

The new centre will hire 16 full-time equivalent employees, three times as many as currently.

It is expected to open 7am-10pm Monday to Friday and 7am-8pm on weekends.