NEWS CONSTRUCTION FIRM KIER SET FOR £20M CHELMSFORD PROJECT Chelmsford City Council in Essex has signed a preconstruction agreement with Kier for the £20m redevelopment of its ice rink and leisure centre. Under the agreement, the council plans to have a 25m swimming pool and other facilities built which integrate with the existing Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre facilities. A planning application for the new leisure complex has also been submitted and will be considered by Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee in March. If approved, construction of the new facility is planned to start in July 2017, with the opening scheduled for the end of 2018.

ABERDEENSHIRE LEISURE CENTRE PLANS APPROVED Work on an £8.5m leisure facility in Banchory could begin in the summer after Aberdeenshire Council granted planning permission for the development. The centre will consist of a six-lane swimming pool suitable for competitions, training pool, three-court sports hall, fitness suite and other facilities. The local authority is putting £7.8m into the facility, with the remaining £700,000 being raised by Banchory Sports Village Trust. Chair of the council’s education, learning and leisure committee, councillor Alison Evison, said: “The granting of planning permission is a major step forward for what is a very exciting project that will give a real boost to sports groups in Banchory and the surrounding area.” Keith Mair, Chairman of Banchory Sports Village Trust added: “So far we’ve raised £670,000 and that wouldn’t have happened without the fantastic effort from all the clubs who have been strong supporters of what we’re doing.” Work on the new centre is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

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Manchester Group Pools Resources With Newcastle Trustees of a disused Turkish Baths in Manchester have travelled to Newcastle to meet the team behind the resurrection of the City Pool and Turkish Baths. Fusion Lifestyle will begin work on a £5m redevelopment in early 2017 after drawing up impressive plans to breathe new life into the building and gaining planning permission earlier last year. The group from Manchester’s Victoria Baths also met Michelle HirschhornSmith of the Re-open Newcastle City Pool & Turkish Baths group, which was (Left to right) Janet Slade, Victoria Baths Trust; Michelle Hirshhorn-Smith, instrumental in pushing for the City Pool Re-open Newcastle City Pool & Turkish Baths; Gill Wright, Victoria Baths Trust; Anthony Cawley, Fusion Lifestyle; Jill Earnshaw, Victoria Baths Trust; Barry to be reopened. Johnson, Victoria Baths Trust The Victoria Baths in Manchester have Turkish Baths.” been closed for swimming since 1993, but trustees Gill Wright, Project Development Manager at have been given new hope by the £5m refurbishment Victoria Baths Trust, also heads up the Historic in Newcastle. Now they too have turned to Fusion Pools of Britain group, which was set up in 2015 to Lifestyle for help with the restoration. Michelle Hirschhorn-Smith, of Re-open Newcastle protect and preserve England’s public baths. Gill said: “We heard the all-too-common story City Pool & Turkish Baths, said: “We’re thrilled of Newcastle’s baths closing, so we were delighted to be working with the Victoria Baths group from to hear that Fusion is working with the community Manchester and Fusion Lifestyle. campaign to save the building for public use. “It’s been inspiring to meet with other people “Newcastle really is a flagship for us of how who share our passion for public pools and historic historic pools can be made fit for today and Fusion buildings, and we’re especially glad the Victoria is to be congratulated on taking a leading role in Baths team have come to visit Newcastle as this field.” these are two very rare buildings which still house

£13m Dual Purpose Leisure Arena Opens Its Doors State-of-the-art leisure facilities and civic offices are combined under one roof at the new £13m Rushcliffe Arena at West Bridgford, Nottingham. Two hundred of Rushcliffe Borough Council’s staff have moved to first floor offices at the Arena which replaces the leisure provision at Rushcliffe Leisure Centre and the previous Rushcliffe Arena before its redevelopment. Operated by Parkwood Leisure, the new leisure facilities include a six lane, 25-metre main pool and a learner pool with family beach. Glen Hall, Parkwood Leisure’s Operations Director, said: “Rushcliffe Arena is a fantastic building equipped with superb leisure and

recreation facilities. I have no doubt that it will prove extremely popular with the local community – the initial response has been brilliant.” Cllr Neil Clarke, Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: “This is a momentous time. Not only have we enhanced sports provision in the borough, but we’re also reducing our on-going running costs, making more efficient use of tax payers’ money. Our new, purpose-built facility works for a modern council and also meets the needs of the community.” Plans were originally approved in May 2014 with work to rebuild Rushcliffe Arena beginning in September 2015. The council has started the process of selling its former offices, an eightstorey, landmark building overlooking the River Trent.

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