New Leisure Centre For Eastleigh A Step Closer
8 November 2013, 13:49 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Councillors in Eastleigh have decided to move forward with plans for a major new leisure centre for the town.
Cabinet last night (Thursday 7 November) confirmed plans to modernise Fleming Park Leisure Centre by approving a budget of £1.5 million to take the project to full planning application stage by Spring 2014.
Cabinet approved a scheme to replace the existing leisure centre with a state of the art facility on the current Passfield Avenue site. It is proposed that the £19million project will build a new centre alongside the current building which will continue to operate during the construction period with customers able to continue to use the centre in the normal way. The building would have a similar ‘footprint’ and the new leisure complex would not be built on any additional green space.
The sum of £1.5million will be used to develop detailed plans and designs for the new facility that covers architects, legal and other professional fees.
The proposal will include demolishing the current centre and rebuilding a modern facility including a larger main pool, (six lanes to eight), a larger learner pool, expanded and improved gym facilities health and beauty, improved restaurant and to maintain free car parking. As soon as the plans are available there will be an opportunity for public consultation.
The council says the 'main priority is to increase participation in sport for all and develop a healthy, active community'. Fleming Park attracts 1.2 million visitors per year, the majority of which live within 10 minutes’ drive.
Council Leader Cllr Keith House said:
“This is an exciting scheme to improve facilities for local people and boost visitor numbers. The new centre, that will remain on the same existing ‘footprint’, will ensure that the people of Eastleigh have the very best that the leisure industry has to offer.
“The current leisure centre was built in the 1970s and it is expensive to maintain and is showing its age. We want to encourage health and fitness and participation in sport and I’m sure that a new state of the art facility will encourage even more local people to enjoy a wide range of sporting and healthy activities."
