By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Mansfield District Council has again said the new £8m Warsop Health Hub is “not a replacement” for the closed Meden Sports Centre after confusion over a developer’s comments.
Planning documents submitted last week on behalf of the authority said the hub is a “replacement community leisure facility in Warsop following the closure of Meden Sports Centre”.
But the council has repeatedly said the facility will not be a direct alternative for the now-closed hub, which shut for good in 2018 after concerns over costs and the building’s condition.
Now the council has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that comments made by its planning consultant Roberts Limbrick were an “unfortunate turn of phrase”.
It added this is “not our line on the health hub” and confirmed the planning documents will be amended to reflect the authority’s stance.
It says the building will be “first and foremost a community building” and is “not a leisure centre” – which is why the facility will not be classed as a direct replacement.
A council spokesperson added: “The Warsop Health Hub is a fit-for-purpose centre for wellbeing that was designed based on the needs of the community.
“Following the closure of Meden Sports Centre in 2018, partner organisations have worked together to create a facility that meets the outcomes of community consultation that has taken place over recent years.
“The new facility will bring new benefits for health, wellbeing and community cohesion and we look forward to the project progressing.”
Planning documents show the building will be based in Carr Lane Park, off Carr Lane, on land currently used as a car park.
The new facility will include 44 car parking spaces with an additional four disabled and three electric charging spaces.
It will also have an 8m x 15m swimming pool with water play facilities, a gym suite and a multi-purpose hall that can be used for badminton and basketball.
The single-storey building will also include “flexible, multi-purpose spaces that can be intensively used for a variety of activity and fitness uses”, as well as by community groups.
And it will feature a reception area, a café, a meeting and community room, a viewing area and a “generous gender-neutral changing village”.
Planning documents added: “It will provide a high-quality leisure provision for the local community to encourage active participation.
“The internal and external spaces are designed to be flexible, simple and low-maintenance but also robust and attractive.”
The authority is bringing the £8m hub forward through its £12.3m Towns Fund investment.
About £3m from the Government pot will go towards the facility, with between £1m and £1.5m being requested from the Government-supported organisation Sport England.
Up to £3.5m has also been approved in borrowing, depending on the amount received from Sport England, while reserves may also be used to make up any shortfalls.
The council’s planning committee will review the planning application at a later date.
