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Winchester Fit for the Future. Outline of Community Proposals May 2014. What’s the problem?. Winchester’s sports provision patchy, fragmented. Local facilities for training and competition are inadequate, for swimming and other popular sports – e.g netball, football, gymnastics.
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Winchester Fit for the Future Outline of Community Proposals May 2014
What’s the problem? • Winchester’s sports provision patchy, fragmented. Local facilities for training and competition are inadequate, for swimming and other popular sports – e.g netball, football, gymnastics. • River Park Leisure Centre is showing its age; energy inefficient, large carbon footprint. Council figures suggest capital investment of £6m+ needed for repairs and refurbishment, for centre to last another c.10 years. • A new sports and leisure centre would be a better investment – this would expand sports participation, support health and well-being, and develop local talent.
Winchester Fit for the Future • Group of sports stakeholders from Winchester and surrounding area • Working to improve sports provision – specifically the development of sustainable and accessible community sports facilities • Co-ordinated by volunteer campaign director, and proposal development group: Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club, Winchester and District Athletics Club, University of Winchester – broader network of c.20 other clubs and groups • Drawing on pro bono expertise, including from NGBs (ASA and others), University of Winchester, Studio Four Architects, MITIE, Synergy QS
Sports centre proposal • Based on research about local needs, supply and demand, longer-term potential – and lessons and good practice from UK and beyond • Facility mix similar to K2 Crawley • Cutting edge technologies, built to last – spend more now to save money later • Partnership approach to funding, design and build – WCC, HCC, University, clubs • Local social enterprise or similar community oriented operating model • Bar End identified as best location
A community sports and leisure centre that is… • Flexible – maximising use by enabling a wide range of activities, in a compact and well-designed facility • Accessible – serving all customers, whatever their needs or goals • Sustainable – minimising running costs and any negative social or environmental impacts • A community focal point – offering opportunities for play, training, competition, events
AquaZone • 50m by 8 lane main pool • Movable floor and boom(s), to partition the pool and vary its depth • Enabling simultaneous use by different groups engaged in different activities • Able to support competition in swimming, water polo and more (NB a ‘regional specification’ ≠ a ‘regional facility’!) • Spectator seating • Small warm pool(s) for babies, toddlers, hyrdrotherapy and supported activity for users with disabilities
GymZone • Sprung and matted floor • Appropriately equipped to support gymnastics and trampolining; some forms of dance, martial arts, yoga etc • Could also incorporate movable soft play equipment and ball pits, climbing and bouldering walls
CourtZone • Designed to support inter-county and national league competition in e.g. basketball, netball and volleyball (size of 3 netball courts) • Indoor training for e.g. athletics, cricket, football • Pull-down bleacher seating
HealthZone • A fitness centre – i.e. a gym, dance studio, and squash/racket courts (with movable walls) • A physiotherapist station, sports science laboratory, and associated health and well-being support • Could be expanded to provide broader health services to meet local needs
Other facilities • Café and/or sports bar – with pool tables and/or other leisure options? • Spectator seating for athletics track, with running strip in undercroft • Office space – including for local clubs • Teaching / meeting space
Sustainability • Energy efficient, super-insulated • Energy generation on-site – e.g. photovoltaic cells on roof, ground source heat pump • CHP, linked to district energy scheme • Solar thermal hot water • Rainwater harvesting, re-use of waste water • UV treatment for pool water – dramatic reduction in chlorine levels • Minimising running and lifecycle costs
Accessibility • Designed to support all age groups and levels of mobility / ability • Affordable provision • Located within easy reach of city centre but also accessible to those coming from outside • Cycle paths, safe walking routes • Easy to reach by car from M3 and other major routes • Good bus links, including to train station • Bar End offers all this, as well as synergy with existing sports facilities – e.g. athletics track, pitches
What’s happening now? • WCC feasibility study and options appraisal published May 2013 – weak in many areas, not a reliable business case • WCC Leader signalled ‘preferred option’ to Cabinet June 2013 • WCC officers developed proposal; presented this and Savills planning report to Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny Committee September 2013 • Public meeting end September… • Ears now open to our proposals? • We’re now developing detailed business case: • Capital costs for 3 core components (pool, gymnastics, courts) • Capital estimates for whole centre - Synergy QS • Detailed programming for 3 core components - use to develop revenue projections • Running costs - for pool and for whole centre • Continuing our research and consultation • Pressing for multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss evidence and options, build partnership
Want to get involved? • See proposals and site plans at www.fit4thefuture.org • Follow us on Twitter @WinchesterFit, WFF Facebook page • You can still sign the online petition if you wish • What are the opportunities for your neighbourhood, our city and our district? You might want to talk to your councillors and other community leaders about your ideas, suggestions, concerns. • Contact WFF info@fit4thefuture.org • Sign up for future email updates