Have your say on the future of sports facilities in Shropshire

Sports organisations, clubs and members of the public are invited to give their views on the future of sports facilities in Shropshire as part of work to produce a Sports Facilities Strategy for the county.

The aim of the strategy is to provide sufficient high-quality, fit for purpose and accessible facilities for local residents, to enable the public to continue to benefit from sport, leisure, and health and fitness activities.

Shropshire’s Sports Facilities Strategy 2016 to 2037 will identify the need for sports facilities across the county, as well as proposals for rationalising and redesigning facilities to meet local needs. The strategy includes sports halls, swimming pools and fitness suites, and suggests several recommendations, which include:

• investing in and supporting three main community leisure hubs – these will be strategically-located, multi-facility sites in the market towns of Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Oswestry
• working in partnership with local partners and key organisations over the next 12 months to identify alternative future funding and operational models to take on other facilities within Shropshire.

The recommendations also include replacing the Quarry swimming facility in Shrewsbury on a site where there are existing leisure facilities, to maximise participation, reduce costs and optimise investment benefits. However, this proposal is currently on hold for a year, following agreement by Cabinet on 13 July 2016 that other groups and organisations – including the Shrewsbury BID, Quarry Swimming and Fitness Forum and Shrewsbury Town Council – are given up to 12 months to develop alternative proposals to retain swimming provision on the existing site at The Quarry in Shrewsbury town centre.

The strategy also proposes that the council withdraws from all remaining joint-use funding arrangements as soon as is practicable, but works with local partners to secure future community access.

Over the past six months the council has proactively been in talks with town councils, parish councils and local communities to look at how they could take over the management of community-based services such as leisure centres, libraries and museums.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:

“Shropshire Council is keen to engage with all residents and key stakeholders who have views on the future of sports facilities in the county.

“Most importantly we need to speak to local communities and organisations where facilities might be at risk and where the council, due to its diminishing budget, could withdraw support and not invest.

“The strategy will also help further inform the ongoing discussions taking place between local councils and officers at Shropshire Council on the future of local services and assets, which will continue as planned.

“It is really important that we capture the real experiences of people, and sport organisations and clubs, to ensure that the strategy is fit for purpose. I’d urge everyone to get involved and comment on the strategy, as it will set the context for decisions about the priority and delivery of local sport facilities up to 2037.”

The work is being undertaken by Strategic Leisure Ltd, an independent commissioning body, on behalf of the council, and has been drawn up to provide a framework for sports facilities in the county up to 2037, based on projections for the future population and ongoing consultations.

The public are encouraged to can have their say on the strategy and send their comments to facilitiesstrategy@shropshire.gov.uk by no later than Friday 30 September 2016.