New Western Way leisure centre in Bury St Edmunds branded "waste of resources"
But Labour believes the hub will be a “waste of precious resources”
Last updated 7th Dec 2022
The leisure centre phase of the Western Way Hub project has gained council cabinet support but Labour believes the hub will be a “waste of precious resources”.
West Suffolk Council approved an updated business case for the first stage of the Western Way project yesterday, which includes a £40 million new leisure centre.
Work on phase one can begin if full council also gives its approval on December 13.
Cllr Jo Rayner, who has responsibility for leisure, culture and community hubs, said: “A new leisure centre is much needed in Bury St Edmunds because the current one is coming to the end of its life and is not big enough for the growing community.
“Refurbishment costs have been considered, but a new leisure centre is the best option financially.
“Rather than spending more to maintain an existing ageing facility, I am proposing that we continue with our plans to bring a brand new, state-of-the-art facility to Bury St Edmunds.
“While phase one of this scheme is smaller than anticipated, it has been designed flexibly to adapt and grow in the future.”
The first phase will cost up to £75 million, with almost half of this expected to be spent on a replacement for the 50-year-old leisure centre in Beetons Way.
According to the officers’ report, refurbishing the existing leisure centre to the minimum level would initially cost £13 million, compared with the £40 million Western Way leisure centre.
However, the 40-year cost of a minimum-level refurbishment and rebuilding the leisure centre after 20 years, which is when this will be needed, is estimated to cost about £5 million more than the equivalent cost of the Western Way centre.
The anticipated price of the new leisure centre has increased by £9 million since 2021, which officers put down to inflation and an expansion to cope with expected population growth.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, who is responsible for strategic health, said: “This is so important for the health of our young people, particularly as many private leisure centres do not provide swimming lessons for children.”
Plans for Western Way have changed since they were approved by the council in late 2019 and achieved planning consent in 2021 – including the decision to deliver it in multiple phases taken in June of that year.
The NHS had plans to provide a large community health facility on the site. In September 2022, it stated more time was needed to complete its business case due to new financial rules, meaning the health facility will not be provided in phase one.
Speaking before the meeting, Labour Cllr Cliff Waterman put forward his party’s belief that the Western Way Hub is a “waste of precious resources”.
Cllr Waterman said: “I am hoping they pull the plug on the project now. The Labour group called for them to do this one year ago.
“West Suffolk Council will have a £2.5 million gap in our budget next year.
“Predictably, the NHS has decided to pull out of it. I suspect it is not going to come back to realise its part of the project – the NHS has other things on its mind at the moment.
“We do desperately need health services in Bury St Edmunds, and particularly dentists. We need community dentists; we do not need a hub.
“Clearly something needs to be done with the leisure centre as it is past its best.
“But I am not a fan of these kinds of grandiose hybrid projects, which always go over budget and cause problems. A health service and a leisure facility are not the same and they don’t have the same requirements.
“West Suffolk House was originally intended to be a health hub and the health service pulled out of that, too.
“I worked out that 500 directly-managed houses council houses could be built with the money set aside for the project.
“This would give the council a continual income and could provide good, well-insulated homes for our residents.”
Each phase will be subject to a different business plan so the entire cost of the hub is unknown. In February, it was anticipated that this would be between £91 and £132 million.
Of the £75 million maximum cost of the first stage, £10 million will be for interim works towards the next phases. This will mainly consist of replacing the roof and adding solar panels.
The leisure centre is expected to have a fun pool and learner pool, as well as a sports hall, studios, a gym and a soft-play area.
Phase one might include office space, the West Suffolk branch of the Suffolk Archive and/or a pre-school. Suffolk County Council is investigating the potential for relocating this part of the archive from its current spot in Ipswich.
It is proposed that a business case for phase two is brought to councillors before the end of the phase one construction period and when the outcome of the NHS’ business case process is known.