New sports centre 'a huge boost'

Kirklees Council is looking to replace the existing sports centre in Southgate, which is now outdated and would need massive investment to be brought up to modern standards.

Council chiefs want to build a new centre at the site of Spring Grove car park, Springwood, Huddersfield.

They are proposing the centre will include a leisure water feature including a beach, wave machine, flume and sidewinder; a 25-metre swimming pool; a teaching pool; two large sports halls; climbing, squash and martial arts facilities; a large fitness suite; and a caf and children's area.

The estimated cost is 36m with a substantial amount of funding coming from the council selling land to Tesco for a new store at Southgate.

Councillor Mehboob Khan, the leader of Kirklees Council, said: "These new facilities would be a huge boost for Huddersfield, attracting visitors into the town centre from far and wide.

"There is a very clear need to replace the existing sports centre, which is coming to the end of its natural life – it has a high risk of pool tank failure, is an increasing liability for local taxpayers and our consultation shows that many people are put off by the dated facilities.

"We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We can provide Huddersfield with a wonderful base for people to enjoy themselves and get active as part of a healthy lifestyle."

It is hoped that the scheme would have major regeneration benefits for key sites near the Huddersfield ring road, as well as promoting health and well being among local communities and attracting new visitors to the town.

Council officers have estimated that the centre would attract between 30 and 50 per cent more users compared with the existing centre, which has about 500,000 visitors per year.

Coun Khan added: "Extensive research tells us a new sports centre would lead to a big increase in visitors. These are exciting proposals, though the decision of the planning committee is by no means a foregone conclusion.

"Upgrading the current centre would be costly and time consuming. The building would have to be closed for up to two years, but in that same period a bespoke, value-for-money replacement could be built with a complete leisure offer.

"We explored various locations and Spring Grove is the only viable option. Before submitting our planning application we also held meetings with local residents, organisations such as the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership and worked positively with pressure groups such as Town First so that all their views were taken into account. This process will continue.

"The sports centre scheme is a major opportunity which also ties in with the chance to regenerate the current Tesco site on Viaduct Street, potentially creating hundreds of jobs.

"It would make a lasting difference to Kirklees at a time when, nationally, the economic climate has caused so many regeneration projects to stall."

Kirklees planning committee will consider the impact on the town centre, parking and road access before the application is considered in the late spring.