Last month we reported that Wilmslow is to get a new Lifestyle Centre providing leisure, library and some social care facilities under one roof.
Cheshire East are piloting a plan to set up four brand new Lifestyle Centres as they look to transform the way they provide health and wellbeing services. The towns of Congleton, Crewe and Macclesfield will also get their own centre.
As a result of our article we received a number of letters from local residents who were concerned about these plans and what would happen to the existing leisure centre and library in Wilmslow.
Wilmslow resident Graham Beech said "While I fully support any initiative that improves the health and well-being of local people, it seems odd that the leisure centre has only recently had a minor update and more work is currently taking place at substantial cost. Likewise, the library has just reopened having been closed for a month while it, too, was being updated. Would it not have been better to freeze such expenditure while this very major development is under discussion?
"Many people are concerned about the possible siting of the Lifestyle Centre. Such a large centre would require a huge car park and there are very few, if any, suitable locations in the centre of Wilmslow with sufficient space. An out-of-town location would be inconvenient for many potential patrons, especially the elderly, and there may well be planning problems. And to build on one of the few green spaces owned by the Council, such as Carnival Field or the Jim Evison playing fields, would be unthinkable."
Denise Hutchison also contacted wilmslow.co.uk and said "I was horrified to read that Cheshire East Council are planning to build a new leisure centre including library and social care. In the current economic climate this seems quite unnecessary as the library has just been refurbished and there is nothing really wrong with Wilmslow Leisure Centre that a small amount of cosmetic expenditure would not put right.
"So how can such a large investment be deemed necessary or desirable when so many other services are being cut back. They obviously have no idea as to where the facility might be sited or the cost. The present library and leisure centre are very convenient for the majority of Wilmslow residents and I would not like to see this change.
"In addition there is no mention of a theatre and the Evans Theatre is well used by local societies. For something quite so radical I do think everyone should be made aware of the plans and how it will affect the various people who currently use both the leisure centre and the library."
I raised these concerns with Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing. He told me: "During the last couple of years talks have taken place with a number of developers and interested parties who want to do something with the leisure centre and library. This is valuable land so we need to be savvy and decide whether we take advantage of this interest and in return get them to build an all singing, all dancing new centre."
"We haven't identified sites for the new Lifestyle Centres but we have £200,000 in the budget for April to enable the experts to take a look at all the assets relevant to libraries and leisure centres. A lot of these were built in the 70's and we need to look at whether they are fit for purpose, are they in the correct place and are they used by the people we want to use them."
"By selling these assets we could build a new centre. We have one of the fastest growing older populations in the country and my concern is getting these older people more independent and fitter so we reduce the demand for social care. With public health responsibilities coming back to local authorities, these hubs will help to prevent long-term illnesses such as heart disease."
"The money we have recently spent on Wilmslow Library was money we received from the old County Council and many of the facilities we have introduced, such as self-serve kiosks, can be uplifted and taken across to a new centre."
Several residents also wrote saying they had heard that the Council have informally discussed the sale of the Leisure Centre to Waitrose. Councillor Knowles said "Yes, Waitrose has expressed an interest because they feel they are not in the best area but we will look at all the options. Everything is up for grabs!
"What I can guarantee though is that the existing library and leisure centre will definitely be kept going until the new building is ready."
Photo: Macclesfield Leisure Centre duty manager Becky Snelson, manager Maria Tatters, recreation assistant Dan Lyons and Councillor Andrew Knowles.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I am concerned that £200,000 appears to be being spent on a management exercise to decide how to sell off this prime land in the centre of Wilmslow. Selling the leisure centre site to Waitrose would lead to the loss of the cricket pitch and the trees in the centre of town. Destroying perfectly good buildings does not make sense. Why not use the £200,000 more wisely and leave our leisure centre and library where they are? We need more green space, certainly not more supermarkets or car parks.