‘THIS council has a proud tradition of using the nuclear option – don’t risk it.’

That was the call from one city councillor as plans for a new leisure centre in Winchester were scrutinised at a meeting earlier this week.

Councillor Martin Tod told members of Winchester City Council’s (WCC) overview and scrutiny committee that many councillors and members of the public had concerns over the choice to build an eight-court sports hall, rather than 12.

Cllr Tod added that if the issue was not addressed before the plans were progressed, there’s a risk that the project could be scuppered, leaving Winchester without a sports and leisure centre.

As previously reported, WCC’s cabinet approved the mix of facility for the proposed Winchester Sports and Leisure Centre, which will be based at Bar End and replace the outdated River Park Leisure Centre.

It will include the eight-court sports hall, a 50m swimming pool that can be separated into two smaller pools, a learner pool and a water play area.

The new centre will also have a ‘clip and climb’ facility, four squash courts, a hydrotherapy suite and eight treatment rooms, two large studios, a spin studio and 200-station gym.

Councillors were told that the cost is estimated at £38million, up from £29m in 2015. The Chronicle has asked the council for the reasons, but it has yet to respond.

However, the decision to build an eight-court sports hall has been slammed.

Conservative councillor Kim Gottlieb told the meeting: “The cabinet decision to reduce the size of the sports hall is misguided and, in many respects, bewildering.

“We know that on the day it opens Bar End will struggle to accommodate many of the sports and clubs, in addition to an ever increasing number of individuals, that were hoping to use it.”

He added: “We have an obligation to treat all sports in a fair and equal way. It was never the intention to build a centre that favoured swimming at the expense of other sports.

“These views are shared by most councillors on the Bar End sport committee, but the majority view has not prevailed because the four non-cabinet members of the committee weren’t allowed to vote on any of the key decisions.”

Lib Dem Martin Tod warned: “All major projects that have gone wrong have because there was an issue bubbling underneath. How are you managing the risk that you don’t have 23 votes because of this issue. This council has a proud tradition of taking the nuclear option.”

Two council projects scuppered due to underlying issues were the original Silver Hill scheme, and Station Approach, at the railway station.

Cllr Lisa Griffiths, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, responded: “All of the facilities are an expansion for the future. As we move forward, we trust you will see this is the right decision. All the data shows this is the right decision.”

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