Marple Swimming Pool currently closed

[Cyberman]

That cheque was shredded at the point Willy started to speak up about the Government. Hopefully now people will see this for what it is/was. A ploy to buy the silence of a few marginal MPs.

Exactly. I note Leek got £17 million to "level up Leek Town Centre through a refurbishment plan that will upgrade the old market halls for new business use, upgrade the public library and museum, and create a "swimming facility". Their MP is also Tory - Karen Bradley - but she seems much more compliant than Mr Wragg. She only voted against 0.9% of motions in the past 2 years whereas with Willy it was 10% (source The Public Whip).

[Andy]

Of course there isn't any money.

That cheque was shredded at the point Willy started to speak up about the Government. Hopefully now people will see this for what it is/was. A ploy to buy the silence of a few marginal MPs.

Never trust a tory!

Andy

It seems there's no Levelling Up Funding for Marple Community Hub and Swimming Pool What happens next?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-levelling-up-fund-to-spark-transformational-change-across-the-uk

[admin]

It seems there's no Levelling Up Funding for Marple Community Hub and Swimming Pool What happens next?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-levelling-up-fund-to-spark-transformational-change-across-the-uk

[GM]

Here's are a couple of examples from smaller councils than Stockport. Less than a million quid, possibly much less if you salvaged the showers, pool filter system and heating.

Even using fag packet maths 1million over let's say effectively 10 years since closing to a new pool sounds pretty reasonable at 100k a year

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/former-olympic-swimmers-launch-new-9412420

http://www.poolandspascene.com/commercial-swimming-pools/quick-fix-solutions-for-pool-closures

[andrewbowden]

So bulldoze it and save on costs, put up a temporary pool in its place!. That would not cost millions and atleast return a facility we as council tax payers deserve.

On what basis do you know the price of a temporary pool?  Are you a pool design expert?

[GM]

Personally I couldn't care less about the actual building, it's far from anything which might win an award but what you're effectively admitting is that the council have left it to go to ruin.

So bulldoze it and save on costs, put up a temporary pool in its place!. That would not cost millions and atleast return a facility we as council tax payers deserve.

All we've heard for years is platitudes and excuses from the councillors, design after design and what have we actually got to show for it?.

[andrewbowden]

As I pointed out last time you mentioned a stainless steel liner, one of the issues was the filtration system.  A liner does not solve the problem of the filtration system.  That's probably a good reason why they didn't go with a liner option.  It doesn't solve the problem.

Since then the roof started leaking.  That put pay to the gym (along with social distancing making it unecconomic). I say started leaking.  Several times I was swimming in that pool and found water dropping on me from the roof.  Root's probably been dodgy for years. 

The number of issues the building has, are numerable.  Were it a nice building that would be the pride of a town (like Glossop's pool), I'd be up for saving it.  But it's not.  It's a bit of a simple, boring looking building that is now way past its best.  Even to re-open it for a few years would cost millions.  It's time to let it go.  It lasted a long time. 

Apart from Glossop I can't think of any other local pool in the area anywhere near the age of Marple's.  And whilst it's frustrating that it's closed its doors this way, it's happened. 

[GM]

It certainly sounds more unlikely with every passing year, as how much does a design of this scale cost and then for each consultation and redesign.

I have said relining the original would be a simple task with a stainless steel liner, even as a temporary solution for let's say another 5 year's whilst they actually get designs sorted.

Maybe we just ask Denton for the blueprints ?

Did the council ever actually publish the report on the condition of the building, after spending a lot of money replacing the heating or filter system?

[jimblob]

but some nice commisions for their friendly architects to burn some more money on "detailed design" without actually knowing whether they will ever get funding. Seems the wrong way round to me; secure funds and then design and build to budget.

[GM]

Great, so that's summer for another design/public consultation.

Then autumn redesign, planning, funding and then more paperwork and the inevitable arguments with whomever over its exact placement in the park.

Then three years to probably build and complete the thing, so we are looking atleast 2027 using a fair degree of hope and wishful thinking.

[admin]

A new public statement has been made by Stockport Council on the Marple Community Hub scheme this morning:

For ease, and for the record, this is posted below too:

Marple Leisure and Community Hub Update, March 2022
Stockport Council has engaged architects to progress the latest round of detailed design work.

Stockport Council has engaged architects to progress the latest round of detailed design work in relation to two options for the proposed Marple Leisure and Community Hub with a view to bringing forward a final scheme for decision and further engagement in Summer 2022. This builds on outline design work that has already been undertaken, the engagement which took place during 2020/21 and the feedback received on the Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid in October 2021.

The first option under development is a scheme which incorporates a range of leisure, community and health provision and is based on the preferred scheme identified through the two phases or engagement work undertaken. It is anticipated that such a scheme could only be progressed with a significant proportion of external funding, but we feel that it is important that we have a workable scheme ready, should suitable funding opportunities arise in the near future.

In the event that the Council is not able to take advantage of external funding opportunities in the near future, a ‘core scheme’ is also under development. Such a scheme would provide a replacement leisure facility (including pool, gym and studio facilities) and a replacement library with some flexible community space.

The preferred site is still in the vicinity of the current library building, though taking into account woodland areas, heritage constraints within the park and the proximity to residential properties.

The Council will be bringing forward proposals regarding the site of the former pool in due course.

[wheels]

It reads as if the our Labour authority had no real idea how to fun the scheme before  they launched the consultation.

[GM]

Probably long before our MP became vocal.

Maybe it was decided in a tombola style affair during one of the garden parties ?.

But I have a mental image of it being more pin the tail on the map as to where the funding goes.

[dr.chris]

The cynical side of me wonders if the decisions over the levelling up fund occurred before or after our MP became a critic of aspects of our government

[andrewbowden]

I read the statement again last night, and re-reading it one thing stood out to me in contrast to what has been taken by some people.  There's no indication that money is an issue - just that one source of funding was not successful.  Presumably money could be borrowed if needs be - which is what the council did with Merseryway - but they'd no doubt prefer it if they didn't have to borrow the full whack.

As a side note, Stockport has recently been investing in its leisure centres.  Avondale and Romiley have both had refurbishment work recently.  There's also a plan to add Life Leisure's facilities at Reddish Houldsworth Mill and Stockport Sports Village in Woodley to the council's portfolio.  They're directly owned by Stockport Sports Trust (who operate Life Leisure) unlike other centres that are owned by the council.  It was announced last year that due to Covid implications, the trust would be winding down, with everything moving to a new council owned company.  Presumably that means the council will be paying the Trust money for its assets.

Given all that I suspect money isn't a particular problem, and its just more that the council would rather not borrow the cash if it can get away with it.  Who could blame them for that?