Winchester Fit for the FutureWinchester Fit for the Future

Outline of Community ProposalsMay 2014

What’s the problem?What’s the problem?o Winchester’s sports provision patchy, fragmented. Local facilities for training and competition are inadequate, for swimming and other popular sports – e.g netball, football, gymnastics.

o River Park Leisure Centre is showing its age; energy inefficient, large carbon footprint. Council figures suggest capital investment of £6m+ needed for repairs and refurbishment, for centre to last another c.10 years.

o A new sports and leisure centre would be a better investment – this would expand sports participation, support health and well-being, and develop local talent.

Winchester Fit for the FutureWinchester Fit for the Futureo Group of sports stakeholders from Winchester and surrounding area

o Working to improve sports provision – specifically the development of sustainable and accessible community sports facilities

o Co-ordinated by volunteer campaign director, and proposal development group: Winchester City Penguins Swimming Club, Winchester and District Athletics Club, University of Winchester – broader network of c.20 other clubs and groups

o Drawing on pro bono expertise, including from NGBs (ASA and others), University of Winchester, Studio Four Architects, MITIE, Synergy QS

Sports centre proposalSports centre proposalo Based on research about local needs, supply and demand, longer-term potential – and lessons and good practice from UK and beyond

o Facility mix similar to K2 Crawleyo Cutting edge technologies, built to last – spend more now to save money later

o Partnership approach to funding, design and build – WCC, HCC, University, clubs

o Local social enterprise or similar community oriented operating model

o Bar End identified as best location

A community sports and leisure centre that is…A community sports and leisure centre that is…o Flexible – maximising use by enabling a wide range of activities, in a compact and well-designed facility

o Accessible – serving all customers, whatever their needs or goals

o Sustainable – minimising running costs and any negative social or environmental impacts

o A community focal point – offering opportunities for play, training, competition, events

AquaZoneAquaZoneo 50m by 8 lane main poolo Movable floor and boom(s), to partition the pool and vary its depth

o Enabling simultaneous use by different groups engaged in different activities

o Able to support competition in swimming, water polo and more (NB a ‘regional specification’ ≠ a ‘regional facility’!)

o Spectator seatingo Small warm pool(s) for babies, toddlers, hyrdrotherapy and supported activity for users with disabilities

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GymZoneGymZoneo Sprung and matted flooro Appropriately equipped to support gymnastics and trampolining; some forms of dance, martial arts, yoga etc

o Could also incorporate movable soft play equipment and ball pits, climbing and bouldering walls

CourtZoneCourtZoneo Designed to support inter-county and national league competition in e.g. basketball, netball and volleyball (size of 3 netball courts)

o Indoor training for e.g. athletics, cricket, football

o Pull-down bleacher seating

HealthZoneHealthZoneo A fitness centre – i.e. a gym, dance studio, and squash/racket courts (with movable walls)

o A physiotherapist station, sports science laboratory, and associated health and well-being support

o Could be expanded to provide broader health services to meet local needs

Other facilitiesOther facilitieso Café and/or sports bar – with pool tables and/or other leisure options?

o Spectator seating for athletics track, with running strip in undercroft

o Office space – including for local clubs

o Teaching / meeting space

SustainabilitySustainabilityo Energy efficient, super-insulatedo Energy generation on-site – e.g. photovoltaic cells on roof, ground source heat pump

o CHP, linked to district energy schemeo Solar thermal hot watero Rainwater harvesting, re-use of waste watero UV treatment for pool water – dramatic reduction in chlorine levels

o Minimising running and lifecycle costs

AccessibilityAccessibilityo Designed to support all age groups and levels of mobility / ability

o Affordable provisiono Located within easy reach of city centre but also accessible to those coming from outside

o Cycle paths, safe walking routeso Easy to reach by car from M3 and other major routes

o Good bus links, including to train stationo Bar End offers all this, as well as synergy with existing sports facilities – e.g. athletics track, pitches

What’s happening now?What’s happening now?o WCC feasibility study and options appraisal published May 2013

– weak in many areas, not a reliable business caseo WCC Leader signalled ‘preferred option’ to Cabinet June 2013o WCC officers developed proposal; presented this and Savills

planning report to Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny Committee September 2013

o Public meeting end September…o Ears now open to our proposals?o We’re now developing detailed business case:

Capital costs for 3 core components (pool, gymnastics, courts)

Capital estimates for whole centre - Synergy QS Detailed programming for 3 core components - use to develop

revenue projections Running costs - for pool and for whole centre

o Continuing our research and consultationo Pressing for multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss evidence and

options, build partnership

Want to get involved?Want to get involved?o See proposals and site plans at www.fit4thefuture.org

o Follow us on Twitter @WinchesterFit, WFF Facebook page

o You can still sign the online petition if you wish

o What are the opportunities for your neighbourhood, our city and our district? You might want to talk to your councillors and other community leaders about your ideas, suggestions, concerns.

o Contact WFF info@fit4thefuture.org o Sign up for future email updates