Marple Swimming Pool currently closed

[ringi]

Marple hall

That site would be great for me, but it is too far from most people in Marple

[amazon]

Curious what the 6 sites are. Can think of Memorial Park, Peacefield Playing field and the Rec. Which ones am I missing?

Marple hall ,college

[wheels]

I would assume the existing site is one of the six.

[marpleexile]

3.   I suggested 6 sites to the Council and I believe all have been considered.  All are within half a mile of the present baths, most much closer.

Curious what the 6 sites are. Can think of Memorial Park, Peacefield Playing field and the Rec. Which ones am I missing?

[amazon]

I hope I can clarify and explain some things on this.

On the Gym first of all. It will help to know Life Leisure is not the Council. They are separate bodies. Life Leisure has made the decision on the gym hours, not the council. I’ve advised residents who’ve already contacted me about this to complain direct to Life Leisure. There is no plan to close the gym, and I believe the Council have asked for it to remain until a new facility is built or something forces it to close down such as structural damage or Health and Safety.

On the Pool:

1.   A meeting was held a few months ago between all local councillors, the Senior Officer responsible in the Council and the Labour cabinet Member responsible. It was agreed at this meeting that all parties would work together to ensure there is a pool with leisure facility in Marple. That is a commitment from all parties but we need 1. a site 2. the cash and 3. public acceptance of the ultimate proposal.

2.   The council commissioned the feasibility study which in the first stage has looked at possible sites, the costs involved, any necessary land purchase, size of a facility and where the cash would come from. The announcement says that has been completed so all these are feasible. They are moving to the next stage.

3.   I suggested 6 sites to the Council and I believe all have been considered.  All are within half a mile of the present baths, most much closer.

4.   The Neighbourhood Plan team proposed a new facility and a site, before the closure was known. This has been public for a long time and in every plan draft. I led that team and the preferred option was the Memorial Park. The park has the room without going into any green space, but a good facility would need the involvement, support and co-operation of the library, the occupants of the hall, the Police, the Clinic (NHS) the Scouts and the Senior Citizens’ Hall. Not all of this land is owned by the Council. I stress that was the Neighbourhood Plan opinion, not a decision!

5.   The next stage of the feasibility will include consulting relevant expert and involved bodies on whichever are now felt to be the best sites. Those consultations will be in confidence, for obvious reasons. The council do not want to propose anything until these parties have had their full say, otherwise any proposals would potentially be seriously flawed. After this, optional  plans will be drawn up.

6.   This should result in a plan and a series of options for consultation with the public. Residents will be consulted.

7.   Refurbishing the old baths is not off the table, and in my opinion remains an option if a new facility is impossible.
 
I’m trying to keep people informed; I’ve held a surgery at Romiley baths for Marple swimmers and I get asked every time I go there three times a week. I’ve also tried to keep in touch with those who contacted me via my council email. People are welcome to do this at any time via my Councillor contacts or surgeries in the area.

Thank you for very infomative update .

[Malcolm Allan]

I hope I can clarify and explain some things on this.

On the Gym first of all. It will help to know Life Leisure is not the Council. They are separate bodies. Life Leisure has made the decision on the gym hours, not the council. I’ve advised residents who’ve already contacted me about this to complain direct to Life Leisure. There is no plan to close the gym, and I believe the Council have asked for it to remain until a new facility is built or something forces it to close down such as structural damage or Health and Safety.

On the Pool:

1.   A meeting was held a few months ago between all local councillors, the Senior Officer responsible in the Council and the Labour cabinet Member responsible. It was agreed at this meeting that all parties would work together to ensure there is a pool with leisure facility in Marple. That is a commitment from all parties but we need 1. a site 2. the cash and 3. public acceptance of the ultimate proposal.

2.   The council commissioned the feasibility study which in the first stage has looked at possible sites, the costs involved, any necessary land purchase, size of a facility and where the cash would come from. The announcement says that has been completed so all these are feasible. They are moving to the next stage.

3.   I suggested 6 sites to the Council and I believe all have been considered.  All are within half a mile of the present baths, most much closer.

4.   The Neighbourhood Plan team proposed a new facility and a site, before the closure was known. This has been public for a long time and in every plan draft. I led that team and the preferred option was the Memorial Park. The park has the room without going into any green space, but a good facility would need the involvement, support and co-operation of the library, the occupants of the hall, the Police, the Clinic (NHS) the Scouts and the Senior Citizens’ Hall. Not all of this land is owned by the Council. I stress that was the Neighbourhood Plan opinion, not a decision!

5.   The next stage of the feasibility will include consulting relevant expert and involved bodies on whichever are now felt to be the best sites. Those consultations will be in confidence, for obvious reasons. The council do not want to propose anything until these parties have had their full say, otherwise any proposals would potentially be seriously flawed. After this, optional  plans will be drawn up.

6.   This should result in a plan and a series of options for consultation with the public. Residents will be consulted.

7.   Refurbishing the old baths is not off the table, and in my opinion remains an option if a new facility is impossible.
 
I’m trying to keep people informed; I’ve held a surgery at Romiley baths for Marple swimmers and I get asked every time I go there three times a week. I’ve also tried to keep in touch with those who contacted me via my council email. People are welcome to do this at any time via my Councillor contacts or surgeries in the area. 

[admin]

If I focus on these two extracts from the updates I can maybe see some progress.

The trouble is it is taking a long time and we don't have a pool while we wait.

Updated Statement on Marple Pool: 31st January 2019

Since summer 2018, the Council has been carrying out initial feasibility work to develop options for providing a modern, fit for purpose, leisure facility with pool in Marple. 

This phase of work will be completed shortly.

The Council has now taken a decision to proceed with a more detailed piece of work to develop a concept design for a new facility.

The Council will form a proposal from this work, which will be discussed with the local community.

Updated Statement on Marple Pool: 21st March 2019

Following the initial feasibility work, the project is now progressing with the development of a more detailed scheme. This will present a series of options for incorporating other community facilities alongside replacement leisure facilities, including a pool, in Marple. Once a more detailed scheme has been developed and funding options finalised, engagement will take place with users and local residents.

[andrewbowden]

Not really an update. It's the same as the last one at the end of JAN. They have sneaked in the gym is closing at the weekends. Next update it will be closing during the week too, I guess!!

I had an email about the gym a few weeks ago.  Members will be allowed to use romiley at weekends (if their membership doesn't cover it already.)

Also of note is that all centres besides Grand Central and Hazel Grove will now be closed on bank holidays due to funding cuts.

Have a feeling they may not be in a massive rush on this one...

[PhilB]

Not really an update. It's the same as the last one at the end of JAN. They have sneaked in the gym is closing at the weekends. Next update it will be closing during the week too, I guess!!

[admin]

An updated statement has been published on the status of Marple Swimming Pool today:

Updated Statement on Marple Pool: 21st March 2019

The swimming pool at Marple has been temporarily closed since March 2018 due to problems with the pool fabric and filtration system. These meant that it was not safe for the public to continue to use the pool.

Relevant surveys were commissioned and these indicated that the site required investment of £2.7m in the next 2 years to address a series of urgent and priority condition issues. After consultation with local Councillors, a decision was made not to seek the investment required immediately whilst the Council looked into whether it would be more cost effective in the long term to provide a replacement facility.

Since summer 2018, the Council has been carrying out initial feasibility work to develop options for providing a modern, fit for purpose, leisure facility with a pool in Marple. This has been considering:

• Potential sites for a new facility
• The range of facilities which might be incorporated
• The scope for incorporating a range of additional community facilities with the leisure offer
• Funding options for a new facility

Following the initial feasibility work, the project is now progressing with the development of a more detailed scheme. This will present a series of options for incorporating other community facilities alongside replacement leisure facilities, including a pool, in Marple. Once a more detailed scheme has been developed and funding options finalised, engagement will take place with users and local residents.

The Council is committed to working with Life Leisure to maintain gym provision in Marple, pending a decision regarding a replacement swimming and leisure facility. To ensure that the continued gym provision is financially viable, Life Leisure are proposing to amend the opening hours to weekdays only with effect from 1st April 2019.

There will be further regular written updates as the project progresses. The next update will be circulated in May 2019.

Any queries on the project can be directed to marplepoolproject@stockport.gov.uk

https://www.lifeleisure.net/our-centres/marple/

[jimblob]

This needs to be continually pointed out to Stockport decision makers.

It's called Town Planning; there's an institute of chartered town planners (RTPI) who are supposedly competent in balancing social, economic and environmental needs to shape the way that towns and cities grow. I'm not sure "Stockport decision makers" even understand what this phrase means, let alone execute such a task. The only thing they seem to be able to build are speed humps 

[wheels]

We also need to factor into the debate about any future pool/leisure complex in Marple a consideration of the state of the Romiley Pool/leisure centre. Those who use it will know that while it it is much younger than the Marple pool it is of a certain age and built to the same poor standards of that age.  If the Romiley pool were to close or break down even if only for a short time that would leave the whole of this side of Stockport without facilities.  This needs to be continually pointed out to Stockport decision makers.

[marpleexile]

I want some of what Amazon's on..... (although I suspect it's probably illegal!)

What makes you say that.

My assumption is that whatever happens to Marple Pool's current site, be that a new leisure centre built in place, or redevelopment into something else entirely (probably housing), is that they would at least try to buy the corner plot to make it into one single development.

[amazon]

To use the sorting office site, you would need to take part of the car park as well. 

If you look at the satellite imagery and compare the two, there's definitely more space at the current site - especially if you used the space between the building and pavement.
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3944499,-2.0652427,122m/data=!3m1!1e3 <- current pool
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3930709,-2.063492,112m/data=!3m1!1e3 <- sorting office

could compulsory purchase the two shops on the corner making even more room still think parks best option put everything together .

[amazon]

Save the money and use it to improve the roads in and out of Marple so you can go to a larger and better equipped pool elsewhere. That way, we solve two problems. If (and I stress the word IF) Marple gets a new pool, it'll cost a fortune and to justify the cost, need to have people coming into Marple and use it from outside the locale. With our existing road infrastructure that's going to make an existing problem EVEN worse.
Marple needs to stop living in it's little bubble!

Grants would be available .