The Head of Community and Environmental Services, Mr. Peter Amies to provide an update on the Aldershot Indoor Pools and Lido complex.
Minutes:
An update was provided by Mr. Peter
Amies, Head of Community and Environmental Services, on the Aldershot Indoor
Pool and Lido complex.
The Panel compared the visions of
the Working Group and the Friends of Aldershot Lido (FOAL) Group against the
feedback from the soft market testing exercise. The visions compared well with
the feedback to create a year round attraction, including a heated pool area
with a splash pad facility, improved catering, changing and reception
facilities and to provide an adventure golf area. The soft market testing had also
highlighted scope for increasing the cost in line with feedback from previous
public consultation.
The Panel was advised that outcomes
from the soft market testing had highlighted two main options for the Aldershot
Indoor Pools:
·
Option
1 – Retain the building with self-funded improvements. The advantage to this
would be a potential saving of £180k per annum. The disadvantages would be the
lifecycle costs of the building, increased competition from new facilities in
the surrounding area, increased operating costs and the difficulty of achieving
the vision of integration with the Lido.
·
Option
2 – A new build could result in reduced operating costs and increased income
that would enable an £8 million investment at no additional cost to the
Council. The advantages were a guaranteed 50/60 years life, a landmark building
with increased participation, income and lower running costs. This would also
allow full integration with the Lido. The disadvantages would be a significant
reduction in cost savings.
The Panel then noted the main
options, from the outcomes of the soft market testing, for the Aldershot Lido:
·
Option
1 – retain the existing unheated body of water and improve the reception,
changing and café at a capital cost of around £200k. Both the lido season and
usage (25,000 per annum) would remain the same.
·
Option
2 – replace the unheated pool with a 50 metres heated pool and Splashpad. The capital cost would be around £3 million. The
season would increase from 76 days to 183 days and attendance figures would
average at 55,000 per year.
The Panel was advised that both
options would include a year round adventure golf facility which would attract
around 70,000 visits and, with an increase of £1 on the admission charge,
provide savings to the Council of up to £90,000 per annum.
The Panel noted the advantages of a
new build and the procurement process, in particular that a new build would
provide a facility that offered improved integration with the Lido and
increased levels of participation. The lido season would be extended and with
both increased use and reduced costs would make it much more sustainable. The
50 metres pool would allow for both fun water time and more formal lane
swimming particularly by clubs. The splash pad area would appeal to the younger
children and the Adventure Golf to all ages. The preferred procurement option
would be on a Design, Build, Operate and Maintain basis, which would put the
onus on the operator to provide a more financially sustainable facility.
The Panel discussed the presentation
and highlighted the need to assess traffic management options in the area. It
was noted that additional parking through decking could be provided on the
site.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Amies for
his presentation. The Panel ENDORSED the proposals for submission
to the Cabinet for consideration.