DOZENS of residents attended a meeting last week set up by a new leisure centre campaign group.

Andover Leisure Centre Action group hosted the meeting at The Lights theatre on Tuesday morning, to gather thoughts on proposals for Andover’s new leisure centre.

Over 25 people attended the event, including town, district and county councillors.

At the meeting, attendees raised a number of concerns, with most focusing on a perceived lack of consultation by Test Valley Borough Council.

Other issues raised included concerns over the suitability of the new facility and how and when temporary facilities will be provided while the new leisure centre is built.

Borough councillor David Drew, who attended the event, was asked to address some of the concerns.

And while he stressed the benefit of a new multi-million pound leisure centre, councillor Drew admitted he would have liked to have seen more consultation with residents.

Councillor Drew also said he had held a meeting with outgoing leader councillor Ian Carr, in which he had raised concerns about a lack of consultation.

Reflecting on the meeting, organiser and head of Andover Leisure Centre Action Group, Kirsty Gray, said: “The Andover Community is in favour of improved sports and leisure facilities.

“However, the lack of public consultation and engagement has left Andoverians feeling excluded and angry.

“The leisure centre provides facilities for all sections of society, and is an integral part of our community, to lose this facility for two years with no alternative provisions having been established prior to the closure is tantamount to gross negligence from TVBC.

“This will be life changing for many residents over this two years.”

Q&A: Councillor Tony Ward

The Advertiser sat down with Test Valley Borough Council’s community and leisure portfolio Tony Ward last week to ask him some of YOUR questions regarding the council’s leisure centre plans.

Question – Daphne Bath "What is being done about parking on the site for the new leisure centre and during construction?" 

Answer – Councillor Ward: “We’ve done a parking survey and there will be adequate parking.

“West Street Car Park will be used as a compound site during construction but we have worked out there is enough parking in the town centre to cover for this.”

Question – Diana Smith “What provisions are there for mentally and physically disabled people while the pool is closed and in the new centre?”

Answer – Councillor Ward: “The new facility is designed to be fully accessible for disabled people.

“One improvement is that there will be a big open gym area which is easy for people with disabilities to move about in.

“Another aspect is that for disabled swimmers at the moment have to be hoisted into the pool, while the new pool will have a proper lift facility.

“As for the temporary pool at Shepherds Spring Lane it should be fine. It is built with disability access in mind.

“We are currently consulting with groups, including Andover and District Association for the Disabled about their reservations.

“They have said it is already difficult getting to the leisure centre and so it will be difficult to get to a new place.

“We are trying to help where we can but they are not sure they want to travel yet.”

Question – Glynis Coley: “I have a rare condition and swimming is my life line, can the leisure centre pool stay open until a temporary one is installed?”

Answer – Councillor Ward: “In reality it can’t.

“The pool, that part of the building and the equipment needs significant investment which hasn’t been provided up until now because it was not economically sensible to do it with the current leisure contract coming to an end.

“The only way Places for People would run the pool after we hand it to them is if it was in a repaired state.

“That isn’t economically sensible and would mean it would have to close for refurbishment anyway.

“Obviously having a four month gap is regrettable but we will try our best and if we can reduce that we will.”

Question – Ann Truss: “The council has provided a temporary pool facility, what is it doing to provide a temporary sports hall facility?”

Answer – Councillor Ward: “We are to find alternative facilities where possible.

“Some groups have found their own alternatives and we have already managed to find alternative venues for others.

“There are a few groups left who we are trying to find accommodation for and we have approached lots of venues including school halls, village halls and other sports facilities.

“Two groups, trampolining and gymnastics, we have not been able to help because of the height of the roofs needed for such activities.

“It has been more difficult than we first thought, but we are doing everything we can to find facilities.

“We will also be signposting to other groups and facilities where we can.”

Question – from many readers: “Why is the leisure centre smaller than the old facility?”

Answer – Councillor Ward: “The new leisure centre will actually have more useable space for sports facilities than the old centre.

“The use of space is infinitely better.

“The current footfall is half a million a year but we project the new leisure centre will have 30 per cent increase in that.

“There will be a significant increase in capacity.”

To find out more information about the leisure centre , visit: www.testvalley.gov.uk/news/2017/mar/andover-leisurecentre/