WORK could finally be progressing on a new sports and leisure centre in Poole – but concerns have been raised over whether it will provide adequate facilities.
A senior member of the BCP Council administration has confirmed the local authority and its urban regeneration company are finalising options for the project.
Updating the swimming pool and sporting facilities was recently described as a “key strand” of regeneration in Poole town centre by ward councillors.
However, fears have been voiced that the council could try to “downsize” any new facility compared to the existing offering at Everyone Active (Dolphin) leisure centre in Kingland Road.
Poole town ward councillor and Poole People group leader Mark Howell said: “There are a number of potential locations for the sports centre but it needs to be within the town centre.
“I am concerned that the administration may be trying to downsize the facility when the large increase in residents of the town centre predicted by the council necessitates expansion.
“A 25-metre pool may be acceptable, if wide enough, but other sports facilities are needed in addition to a gym and studio, such as badminton, table tennis and five aside football.
“These sports were originally provided for within the Dolphin Shopping Centre building, but that is now run privately as a climbing centre with some space let to local sports clubs.”
Fellow Poole People and Poole Town ward councillor Andy Hadley said it was important that facilities are retained that allow people to develop skills and take part in competitions, and for everyone to keep active. He added that the Wessex Diving Club had been based at the Dolphin swimming pool for many years.
Cllr L-J Evans, who is also a Poole People member representing the Poole Town ward, said: “The Dolphin swimming pool is obviously getting very near to the end of its life and the whole building is in serious need of either major renovation or urgent replacement.
“The current facilities are becoming unfit-for-purpose and are wholly inadequate at a time when we should be promoting and encouraging their use for the health and wellbeing of our residents.
“We welcome the news that options are being finalised for a new centre and hope that this progresses as quickly as possible. Swimming is a great exercise for all ages and helps combat a number of health conditions.
“Anyone can learn to swim and water-safety is an important life skill, especially in an area so close to the sea.”
The Everyone Active leisure centre was set to be replaced as part of the now abolished Borough of Poole’s £132million ‘Heart of Poole’ regeneration scheme.
However, around the time of the councils merger in April 2019, the project still required a development partner to go ahead.
Almost three years on and there has been no physical progress with regards to replacing the facility.
Now work is being carried out behind the scenes by the recently created council-owned urban regeneration company BCP FuturePlaces Ltd.
In response to questions to the local authority about replacing the leisure centre, Cllr Mohan Iyengar, BCP Council portfolio holder for tourism and active health, said: “The council, together with the FuturePlaces team, are finalising the options for a new sports facility, whether on the same site as the current Dolphin Centre or another, even better location nearby.
“The final recommendations and timescales will be announced in due course.
“The design will include a swimming pool, which is in line with our commitment to improve services for our residents’ activity and health.”
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