Councillors Approve Funding For New Brighton Pool

Work can start on planning a new swimming pool for Withdean after councillors approved funding for the design and planning stage.

The £6 million project received cross-party support when it went before Brighton and Hove City Council’s Strategy, Finance and City Regeneration Committee today (Thursday 25 January).

As well as backing a new pool at the Withdean Sports Complex, councillors also agreed to a feasibility study for a further swimming pool in the east of the city.

Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre is the leading option, with the Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, in Whitehawk, under consideration.

Labour councillor Alan Robins said that there was a “warm glow” when all members backed the move at a meeting of the council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee.

Councillor Robins said:

“I am really proud we will continue to be able to provide free swimming for under 18 -year-olds.

“This is something we can take particular pride in. This is an important health and wellbeing consideration.”

Councillor Robins recalled having a heart attack seven years ago and the advice that followed to stay healthy and exercise.

Labour councillor Jacob Taylor, who leads on finance, said that the council could borrow £6 million to fund the project because it was “capital spending” which would bring in an income.

Councillor Taylor, who represents Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, said that the council was allowed to borrow for this sort of big-ticket item but not for day-to-day revenue spending.

He said: “We have to maintain infrastructure in the city. We haven’t invested enough whether it’s roads or school buildings or leisure facilities. It is really important during difficult times with the revenue budget to invest in infrastructure.”

He said that he was particularly pleased to see Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre listed as the potential location for a future pool.

Green councillor Sue Shanks said that there would need to be more bus services for the site which is served by the 27 at the moment.

Conservative councillor Alistair McNair said that he hoped that the 40-year projections for income were both conservative and accurate because the building would be “dilapidated” in four decades.

The council’s executive director for the economy, environment and culture Donna Chisholm said that the council had not built a pool in more than 30 years but efficiency had improved in that time.

Labour councillor Tim Rowkins mentioned projects that use heat from data centres to warm pools.

Mrs Chisholm said that it was being looked into, giving Exeter’s “passive leisure centre” as an example of modern efficiency.

The pool proposed at Withdean could make a modest profit of just over £12,000 a year, councillors were told.

The capital outlay was expected to be about £5.8 million. The council planned to budget for a 7.5 per cent contingency in case costs increased.

The proposed pool would have to generate an annual income of almost £560,000 to cover the estimated £260,000 running costs and service the loan at almost £300,000 a year.

Sports England has given the council a £400,000 grant from its Swimming Pool Support Fund but this was aimed at the continuing operation of existing pools in the area.

The committee unanimously agreed to borrow £450,000 to pay professional fees for detailed design and survey work and the obtaining of planning permission.