Shropshire Council has released a summary of the high level key findings following its recent consultation to gather people’s views on the future of swimming in Shrewsbury.
The five-month consultation, which closed on Friday 30 October 2015, received nearly 2,000 responses from individuals, partners, clubs, groups, councillors and businesses across the county on the following seven different site options:
• The refurbishment of the existing Quarry Pool
• The renovation of the existing Quarry Pool
• A new build on site of the existing Quarry Pool
• A new build on land at Clayton Way
• A new build on land at Ellesmere Road
• A new build on land at the Shrewsbury Sports Village
• A new build on land at Shrewsbury College
Combined, the Quarry options represent 68.06% of the most preferred responses, with a new build on the Quarry site receiving 22.89%, a refurbishment of the Quarry receiving 23.50% and an upgrade of the Quarry receiving 21.67%.
Respondents cited central location, accessibility, economic impact on the town centre and convenience as the main reasons for the Quarry preference.
The Sports Village was the most preferred alternative location (16.54%) with respondents citing the complementarity existing facilities, ease of access and good parking.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “All of the options for the Quarry received more preferred responses than any of the alternative site options. The renovation of the existing pool came out on top, but all three options are very close.”
Respondents also registered concern over the loss of the current four pools and the ability to meet the current diverse use with less water space. Learn to swim provision came out as the most important element of a swimming facility, with proximity to public transport links and a timetable that caters for all also seen as important.
Steve added: “These are just the headline findings and there’s lots more valuable information to sort through and analyse.
“For this we’ve decided to enlist the help of an independent company. We hope that this will ensure a proposal, which is right for everyone, is brought forward to be considered and decided upon by Cabinet.”
Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said: “It is good that it is now quite clear, as we have been saying for some time, that overwhelmingly people want to retain the pool in the town centre. We now need to examine the options more carefully, to define what is the most effective, beneficial and economical way of doing this.”
It is expected that a proposal will be considered by Cabinet in spring 2016.