09/212, 24 September 2009
New lease of life for Skelmersdale swimming
pool
Major roof repairs are to be carried out at
Skelmersdale’s main swimming pool to give it a new lease of life
over the next decade.
West Lancashire Borough Council, which owns
Nye Bevan Pool in the town centre, has drawn up plans for a full
renovation of the roof of the 35-year-old year old building. It is
hoped that, once a contractor has been appointed, the work will be
carried out in the next few months.
Cllr Adrian Owens, portfolio holder for
regeneration and estates, said: “We’ve been aware for some time
that the roof at Nye Bevan was going to need extensive repair work
so the Council prudently set aside a sum of money for this
purpose.
“We had hoped that it might not be necessary
to spend this money as the exciting plans for regeneration of the
Skelmersdale town centre include a new sports centre and swimming
pool. However, in the current economic climate and the sub-regional
planning uncertainty we can’t be certain when this project will be
able to go ahead.
“The Council is committed to providing the
best possible leisure facilities for Skelmersdale and so we have
brought forward this scheme to repair the roof at Nye Bevan to
ensure that local residents will be able to continue to enjoy
swimming facilities in the town.
“I must stress that the Council is still fully committed to the
regeneration of the town centre and to that end is currently
engaged in discussions with a number of organizations to bring
forward development proposals in the centre of Skelmersdale. The
work on Nye Bevan will ensure that people can continue to enjoy the
current facilities until a new sports centre can be provided.”
The masterplan for regenerating Skelmersdale
town centre includes a new sports centre and swimming pool along
with a new high street, shops, college, community facilities and
housing. The scheme requires the sports centre to be funded
from the sale of housing. However the current downturn in the
housing market means that there is no certainty over when houses
might be built.
An additional factor affecting the
Skelmersdale regeneration scheme is the uncertainty over proposals
for a massive new retail development at Kirkby, along with a new
Everton football stadium, hotel and offices. The scale of the
Kirkby scheme, if it goes ahead, will undermine the regeneration
plans for Skelmersdale in terms of its viability as a retail
centre. A Public Inquiry has been held into the plans, and
the Council and its development partners, the regeneration
specialist St Modwen, are waiting for the results in order to
assess the impact of the Kirkby scheme on the Skelmersdale
proposals. It is expected that the result will be announced by the
Government later this year.
Related information