Public consultation will shape investment in town leisure centre

Public consultation will shape investment in town leisure centre

18 Jul 2024

Residents in and around Bury St Edmunds are to be given the chance to help shape a multi-million pound investment in the town's leisure centre.
Councillors at West Suffolk Council on Tuesday night, voted in favour of additional funding subject to a public consultation on improving the Beetons Way leisure centre.
Any investment will be on top of a £6.2m capital programme for maintenance at the centre, already agreed by the council.

The council will now work with Abbeycroft who manage the centre on its behalf, to seek views on the changes that current and future users of the centre and councillors want to see. West Suffolk will then work to fix the costs for delivering those improvements before reporting back to Cabinet and Council to decide the investment.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: "We want people - those who use the leisure centre and those who aren't using it yet - to give their views and help shape its future.

"Our strategic priority for Thriving Communities includes ensuring our residents can access good quality sport and leisure facilities to support their health and wellbeing.

"At a time when many councils nationally may be cutting back on things like leisure, we are looking to invest.

"Refurbishing the leisure centre will provide the opportunity to improve the leisure centre, enhancing what it has to offer so that they are better matched to what people need. It will also allow us to further develop the work between health and leisure services to maintain a healthy lifestyle, aid recovery and help people manage a medical condition."

Any further investment will also take into account the benefits delivered and also how it can increase income or deliver greater savings.

Options already being looked at include:

• Remodelling the main entrance area.
• A new café and soft play through the conversion of the leisure pool space.
• The creation of a splash pad with water play features in the leisure pool space and retention of the flumes.
• A refurbishment of the cubicle area as well as refurbishment of the poolside shower and toilets.
• The refurbishment of the pool halls including the replacement of the moveable pool floor in the activity pool, the replacement of the pool edge tiles, replacement of pool balustrades and a deep clean of the area.
• The creation of a health and wellbeing area, with the addition of eight treatment rooms along with the refurbishment of an existing studio.
• The refurbishment of the gym and inclusion of an E-gym as well as the creation of a dedicated spin studio and retention of the college gym space.
• The refurbishment and enhancement of the health suite area.
• Refurbishment of the sports hall including a new timber floor.

Any resulting works would be coordinated to minimise disruption as best as possible.

A public survey will be launched in the near future.

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