Meden Sports Centre pool faces closure as council no longer willing to run it

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Meden Sports Centre was on the site of Meden School, Warsop. (Picture: Google)

A community leisure centre could face closure after a district council said it was no longer prepared to run it.

Meden Sports Centre, in Warsop, north of Mansfield, includes a swimming pool and gym and is used by Meden School during the day the local community out of hours.

The building is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council but managed by Mansfield District Council under a joint agreement.

But the district council says the building is now so outdated and hard to maintain it is no longer prepared to run it.

It has announced it will stop managing it from April 2018.

Cllr Andrew Tristram, Mansfield District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “This decision was not taken lightly. Continuing with the management of Meden Sports Centre is not an option for us.

“We have considered the impact on the community and will look to assist Nottinghamshire County Council and others, including the Mansfield District Leisure Trust, to signpost and, where we can, deliver new programmes of activity in the community to maintain wellbeing and lifestyles.”

The decision follows a long period of uncertainty for the facility, with the district council reviewing its involvement as far back as 2005.

Both councils agree the building on Burns Lane in Warsop is in desperate need of a major refurbishment or complete re-build costing as much as £8 million, but both say they do not have enough funding. Leisure centre management is also not part of the county council’s regular duties.

Mansfield District Council said it would look at encouraging other leisure facilities to develop locally and says the area is well served by other pools, with the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in Mansfield 14 minutes away by car.

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The pool at Meden Sports Centre is used by school children and local families. (Picture: Mansfield District Leisure Trust)

Jas Hundal, head of property for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We remain committed to working with local schools who use the Meden Leisure Centre site for swimming lessons to find alternative pool provision.

“The council will hold detailed discussions with Meden School to maintain their access to the existing school hall on the leisure centre site for pupils to use for PE lessons beyond the date when the district council’s decision to end the joint use agreement is implemented.”

“The County Council is also willing to consider transfer of the existing land as part of a future funding package to support any future redevelopment plans for the hall and we have offered to work in partnership to identify future Government funding opportunities for any redevelopment of the site.

“However, any alternative options to develop a replacement sports facility on the site, offering a similar range of services currently provided, would be a matter for the Meden School and Mansfield district council, as the provider of leisure services in the district.”

 

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