Swimming club launches petition against proposed changes to facilities

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Proposed new leisure centre at West Bridgford

Video: An artist impressions of how the new Leisure Centre on Rugby Road will look

A petition has been launched by a community swimming club against proposed changes to the facilities it has access to.

Rushcliffe Swimming Club currently use Rushcliffe Leisure Centre to teach classes of all abilities but it is due to close in December.

It comes as part of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s plans to incorporate new council offices in a brand new leisure centre on Rugby Road in West Bridgford.

The petition claims that Parkwood Leisure, the company in charge of running the centre on behalf of the council, have made plans to “greatly limit the club to use just half of the pool at the new facility.”

Parkwood Leisure have said they are currently in discussions with the swimming club over how they can continue to run full swimming sessions at the new centre.

General manager of Parkwood Leisure Justin Palfrey said: “We envisage the club playing an important role in coaching and supporting young swimmers who have reached a higher level of ability.”

“Discussions have been and are continuing to take place with Rushcliffe Swimming Club since March with a view to ensuring it can continue to operate when the current leisure centre closes at the end of the year.

“The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and Rushcliffe Borough Council have been involved in these discussions and fully support the proposals to accommodate the club which includes use of the main pool at the new Rushcliffe Arena for club activities.

“Parkwood will continue to run its own, growing, ASA-accredited learn to swim programme.

“This relationship has worked extremely successfully at other leisure centres that we operate across the country and we have no doubt it can work very well at Rushcliffe.”

Video: An artist impression of what the new council offices will look like

John Cottee, Portfolio Holder for Community Services said: “We recognise the value of sports clubs, such as Rushcliffe Swimming Club, to our communities.

“We’re working with Parkwood to ensure that all of the clubs who use Rushcliffe Leisure Centre can transfer over to the new Rushcliffe Arena, in a way which balances their needs and those of the new centre and its other users, to keep the clubs running smoothly, ensuring our residents receive a high quality service.”

The new ‘super’ centre is on track to be completed early in the new year despite an arson attack on the site in September 2015.

A spokesperson for Rushcliffe Borough Council added: “The new Leisure Centre is still on course for completion in January 2017.

“It is possible that council staff will be settled in and up and running just after Christmas with the leisure centre open to the public in January.”

It will house a 25m pool, a beach-themed fun pool, modern gym and fitness studios, bowls rink, sports hall, squash courts, snooker rooms as well as offices for council workers.

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