New swimming pool planned for Pitsea leisure centre
The new four-lane, 25 metre-long pool would be part of an extension to Eversley Leisure Centre
A new swimming pool could be coming to Pitsea as part of a council strategy to improve local public health and fitness.
The new four-lane, 25 metre-long pool would be part of an extension to Eversley Leisure Centre in Crest Avenue, which is run by Everyone Active for Basildon Borough Council.
Also included in the proposals are an extra 50 car parking spaces to accommodate for the increase in use, bringing the total number of spaces to 162.
According to a design and access statement by architects calfordseaden, the facilities would be fully wheelchair accessible.
A section reads: “The Council’s requirement is for the construction of a new 4-lane lap-pool for public exercise and school groups, to be constructed as an extension to the existing centre.
“This is to be compliant with relevant Sport England requirements, be fully accessible, include increased parking commensurate with the uplift in the centre’s capacity, and be designed to be environmentally and energy conscious whilst providing a modern and attractive facility.”
A later section reads: “These proposals offer an opportunity to extend sports facilities in the area whilst enriching the existing facility.
“The proposals are widely supported by the community both in terms of its intention and its design.”
The proposals are part of a long-term strategy to improve facilities for public health and fitness in the area, the statement continues.
The existing leisure centre currently consists of an indoor sports hall, a gymnastics hall, treatment rooms, a full-size floodlit pitch and a gym.
Built in 1970, the current building was refurbished in 2017.
Basildon Council carried out a feasibility assessment in 2019, which found there was a demonstrable need for the facility due to an increase in local population.
The new pool would have a capacity of 71 people and would be 1.2m deep at a single depth.
Also included in the application are plans for changing facilities, as well as a spectator area.
Parking would include infrastructure for future electric vehicle charging stations, according to the statement.
The current car park includes 5 disabled bays, but the statement does not specify if any of the 50 new spaces will be accessible.