Important changes to options report for Shrewsbury swimming provision

Shropshire Council has made some important changes to the options report, completed by Strategic Leisure in June 2015, for the provision of public swimming (and fitness) facilities in Shrewsbury.

Strategic Leisure Ltd were appointed by the council to undertake a thorough and independent analysis of the shortlist of options for swimming provision in Shrewsbury.

Shropshire Council is currently consulting on a number of different swimming pool options in Shrewsbury.

The changes are in response to feedback the council has received to date as part of the consultation, and are specifically on the costs to operate the Quarry Pool and how this, in turn, affects the costings for the other locations.

As a result, the council has taken the opportunity to also include up to date revenue information for 2014/15 and the removal of fit out, life cycle and sink fund costs to ensure the comparison of like for like figures, as well as correct the operating budget for the existing Quarry Swimming Pool, which was brought to the council’s attention during the public consultation.

These changes do not alter which option makes the greatest or least potential saving when compared to the existing operation of the Quarry Swimming Pool. However, the council is mindful that these changes are something previous respondents may wish to reconsider and therefore have taken the decision to extend the consultation by one month until Friday 30 October 2015.*

To make this as easy as possible, the council has issued a short supplementary survey which will be emailed to everyone who has already responded and supplied their email address, and can be accessed at http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/swimming-provision-in-shrewsbury/

A full explanation of the changes can be found in the revisions report.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for leisure services, said:

“Due to these changes we felt that it was only fair to extend the consultation.

“I would like to thank all of those people that have commented so far. We are listening and these comments have, in part, led to these changes. Please take a moment to read this updated information and let us know your thoughts.”

If you have already responded to the consultation and you haven’t given us your email address you can find the supplementary survey here.

If you are yet to respond, please fill in the survey (with revised information) here.

Otherwise, you can call us on 0345 678 9077 or visit your local library.

Once the consultation has closed on Friday 30 October 2015 the council will analyse people’s feedback before taking a report to Cabinet for a decision on a preferred options.

*webpages are being updated this morning to reflect the extended deadline of this consultation.