By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
The cabinet member in charge of leisure at Mansfield District Council is frustrated after a new £9.2m health hub was delayed.
The authority’s planning committee has deferred the new Warsop Health Hub, in Carr Lane Park, so councillors can visit the site over concerns with parking and access.
The single-storey health hub, if approved, would feature a 15m x 8m swimming pool alongside a multi-use games area and other community facilities.
It was initially forecast to cost about £6m but costs continued to balloon up to £8m.
New council papers have revealed extra fees fuelled by rising inflation have led to the project increasing by a further £1.2m to £9.2m.
It will be part-funded by the authority’s £12.3m Towns Fund pot, with £3m of this cash allocated for the health hub.
A further £1.8m will come from the Government-supported Sport England body, with the remainder to come from borrowing and reserves.
A decision is expected to be made at the March 13 planning committee after the site visit takes place, permitting councillors’ concerns are addressed.
Now the cabinet member responsible for bringing it forward has aired his frustrations at the delay amidst excitement locally for the new facility.
Councillor Andy Burgin (Lab), cabinet member for environment and leisure, expected the hub to be approved during Monday’s meeting.
Cllr Burgin, who represents Warsop Carrs, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s frustrating because this is massive for the people of Warsop.
“I’ve done extensive consultation events at community group meetings and I’ve spoken to children at the local school. Not one objection has been raised to this.
“I’m disappointed for everybody in Warsop but, for those kids when I told them there will be a swimming pool, it will be massive for them.
“In the best-case scenario, the decision is delayed for a month.
“The worst case scenario is it’s delayed until after the election in May. A massive amount of public money has gone into where we were on Monday.”
The committee’s decision came after Nottinghamshire County Council, the local highways authority, raised concerns about parking provision and access improvements.
The plans propose 51 car parking spaces, seven motorcycle spaces, 14 cycle stands and three covered cycle stands for employees.
The county council says this is marginally below parking standards and asked for a “more robust survey” of parking to be conducted.
The highways authority also asked for the district council to outline improvements to the Carr Lane access point, as well as provisions to prevent overspilled parking.
In Monday’s meeting, Cllr Phil Shields (Ind), who represents Warsop’s Netherfield ward, was one of six councillors to vote in favour of a site visit.
He said: “I know this site really well and I still have no concerns about Warsop’s need for a leisure facility.
“But I think it’s only right that it’s in the proper place and I believe a site visit is needed to make a decision.
“I don’t want people in Warsop to think I’m against an application for a leisure centre in Warsop, because I’m not.”
However, the decision led to ruling Labour councillors accusing opposition members of “political tactics” in delaying the scheme.
The authority originally expected construction on the hub to begin this summer with the aim of opening by September 2024.
Serco Leisure – which runs the Oak Tree, Water Meadows and Rebecca Adlington Centres – was also due to be appointed as its operator.
However, these details cannot be confirmed without planning permission and Cllr Burgin fears the project could be delayed by three months if a decision isn’t made by March 13.