Hundreds make demands for what facilities should be in new Halifax leisure centre and swimming pool

Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the council was not yet at the stage of having a detailed conversation about what would be included in the proposed new leisure centre and swimming pool on the site of the existing leisure centre at North Bridge, Halifax.

And the existing pool building at Skircoat Road was currently subject to an application to have it listed with questions asked including should the building remain as it was, or just the mural listed as a work of art, she told Calderdale Councl’s Place Scrutiny Board.

Board members were debating a 634-signature petition calling for the inclusion of diving boards and deep water which would be necessary for groups including national champions Halifax

Synchro Club to be able to carry out their activities at the new site.

Coun Scullion said finance was an issue because the council was primarily funding the project itself and money was very tight because of pressures the COVID-19 pandemic had brought – but the new centre was intended to the pride of Halifax and Calderdale, and people deserved a decent set of facilities.

Anne Hardy and Charlotte Hughes had spoken in support of the petition.

Anne said the current swimming pool at Skircoat Road – subject to the listing application – has a five metre platform and three and one metre spingboards requiring a minimum depth of 3.7 metres with 3.8 metres preferred, but designs for the new pool so far shown did not include diving boards or give an indication of water depth.

“I have serious concerns about the omissions of diving boards and deep water.

“If those are not in the design plans those facilities will not be providedin the new leisure centre.

“The further down the line we get with designs and planning, the more difficult and costly it will be to amend them.

“More assurance is required than simply saying nothing has been ruled out.

“It should be a like-for-like replacement,” she said.

Charlotte, who leads Halifax Snychro Club and is also a diving instructor, said the club had been national champions several years running and provided a sizeable amount of fees to the council each month.

Although some general consultation had taken place, clubs had not been approached directly.

The current pool, she said, “brings in revenue – the pool is currently hired for competitions, grading days and so on and this can be factored into the new centre,” she said.

Coun Dave Young (Lab, Calder) said the board should recommend to Cabinet the boards and deep water should be included. “It would be abackward step if the new one offered less than the old one,” he said.

Chair Coun George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) agreed and asked if funding help could be sought, and Coun Peter Caffrey (Con, Northowram and Shelf) said the facilities should be matched.

Coun Sue Holdsworth (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said Shipley or Leeds were the next nearest places with these boards and deep water.

“It would be a shocking travesty to wothdraw these excellent facilities that the people of Calderdale have enjoyed for a long time,” she said.

Sarah Richardson, Assistant Director of Customer Services for the council, said currently the project was at the concept design stage and priort to lockdown work on honing designs was beginning.

Work had re-started and a core offer with costings would be put together and members could identify additional things they wanted included.

But there was a funding limit binding those decisions, she said.