Leisure Centre Plans Go On Show

18 November 2013, 07:14 | Updated: 18 November 2013, 07:24

The council wants to revamp the River Park centre - ideas include refurbishing the existing one, or building a completely new centre nearby.

As part of the consultation programme about the future of River Park Leisure Centre, a public exhibition begins today.

The exhibition will run from 1pm on Monday 18 November to Monday 2 December at two venues: the River Park Leisure Centre at North Walls and the Guildhall in the city centre.

Display panels will outline four options under consideration along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.  Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to write down their views to help Cabinet to come to a decision to recommend to Council.  

Staff will be on hand to talk to visitors on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 November (2pm-8pm) at the Guildhall.

For those unable to attend the exhibition, all the information and the chance to respond will also be available on-line via the City Council’s website from 18 November.

Cllr Keith Wood, the Leader of Winchester City Council, said: “We want particularly to hear the views of the current users of the Centre on the possible options to refurbish or replace the River Park Leisure Centre.

“The final decision will be taken by the full Council. It will be a difficult decision that cannot please everyone, so we want to make our judgement based on the best information available together with a clear sense of the views of leisure centre users, sports clubs and council tax payers.”

The four options are: new build at Bar End; new build at North Walls either a) using the tennis courts, artificial turf pitch and a strip of land alongside or b) using the tennis courts, artificial turf pitch and a significant part of the existing leisure centre site; refurbish the existing centre.