Leighton Buzzard leisure centre frequently asked questions
Funding
How are we funding the proposed new centre?
We are funding the new leisure centre with £25 million of capital funding. We have included this in our Medium-Term Financial Plan.
Planning
Who decides if the proposed centre goes ahead?
Our Executive Committee met on 11 October 2022. It reviewed the public consultation feedback and project proposals. The committee voted to approve the project to proceed to the next stage. We have now submitted a planning application for the project.
View and comment on the application.
Consultation
How have we considered residents' views?
We carried out a public consultation in 2022. The consultation ran for twelve weeks and we offered a range of drop-in and Teams events so that residents could discuss the plans. We reviewed and analysed all responses received during the consultation period and a consultation report was published on our website. We then wrote a statement of community involvement (SCI). This identifies changes made to the project as a result of the consultation process. It also highlights why we couldn't make certain changes. We submitted the SCI as part of our planning application.
Existing use
What will happen to Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre?
The new leisure centre will provide a range of new facilities to meet current and future local needs. We will be providing a swimming pool, gym and exercise studio facilities in the new centre. The existing sports hall and squash courts are part of the Cedars Upper School site. These will remain in place and continue to be available for community use.
We have not yet taken a decision on the future use of the existing Tiddenfoot leisure facilities. We will consider the future of Tiddenfoot in advance of the new centre opening.
How will the proposals impact the existing leisure facilities?
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre will remain open until the new leisure centre is ready for use. At that point, activities will transfer from the existing facility to the new centre. The sports hall and squash courts at Cedars Upper School will continue to be available.
Leisure provision
Why is a new centre needed?
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre is over 50 years old and its facilities are very dated.
Indoor swimming pools have a lifespan of approximately 40 years. Once a pool reaches this age we need to plan to replace the pool or undertake major reconstruction.
The existing Tiddenfoot site is very constrained. It is not possible to provide the larger pool facilities needed to meet demand at that site. The costs of maintenance, repair and replacement also continue to rise. This is due to the aging infrastucture of the building.
Despite its age, we have maintained the current centre to a safe and appropriate standard. But this is not sustainable and we need a new modern centre to serve the community.
We have identified a site for a new leisure centre in the Clipstone Park development. This is to the east of Leighton-Linslade. The new site is large enough to accommodate significantly improved facilities. This will include increased swimming facilities for all age groups. The new site will provide increased capacity to meet the needs of the growing population. It will benefit the local community for years to come.
We have designed the new leisure centre to minimise energy consumption. This will help meet sustainability objectives. It will also result in a reduction in carbon emissions. We're working towards being carbon-zero by 2030.
How have we determined the mix of facilities for the new leisure centre?
In 2021 we adopted our new leisure facilities strategy. The strategy assessed leisure facility needs across the council. It provided recommendations for future provision to meet current and future needs.
The assessment analysed the current demand for a range of facilities. This included swimming and sports hall facilities amongst other facilities.
We used the findings of the leisure facilities strategy to design the new leisure centre. We also used the results of the public consultation to develop the designs further. The design will ensure that facilities will meet both current and future needs.
What facilities should we provide in Leighton-Linslade according to the leisure strategy?
The leisure strategy included a Sport England Facilities Planning Model (FPM) assessment. This assessed current and future demand for sports hall and swimming pool provision. It included demand generated by the increased population forecast in our Local Plan.
The FPM results show that we need one 4-badminton-court-size sports hall. The existing 6-court sports hall at Cedars Upper School already fulfils this demand.
It highlighted that we need a 25-metre, 6-lane, main swimming pool. We also need a 17-metre by 10-metre teaching/learner pool to meet the forecast swimming demand. We have decided to increase provision to include a larger 25m, 8 lane main pool. This will give us greater flexibility and capacity to run a range of pool activities.
Why are we proposing the new centre in the planned location?
The new site is the right size and in a good strategic location. There are good links to the residential development and the wider catchment area. The leisure facilities strategy compared the accessibility of the new site with Tiddenfoot. It highlighted that the new centre offered similar levels of accessibility. It is a similar distance from the town centre and will be on the local bus route.
Access to the centre on foot and by bicycle within the housing development will be excellent. The leisure centre will also link to existing routes from the town.
Grass sports pitches are being provided by the neighbouring housing developments. These will be next to the proposed leisure centre. This provides an opportunity to create an indoor and outdoor sporting hub. The hub will be a great resource for the wider Leighton community.
Why can't we build a new centre elsewhere in Leighton?
We will be building the new centre next to outdoor sports pitches and open space. These are being provided by the housing development. The pitches and leisure centre will create a fantastic indoor and outdoor sports hub. This will serve Leighton-Linslade and the surrounding villages.
A site search and assessment found no alternative sites for this type of development. We considered a range of sites. Most were too small for a leisure centre and car park or had insufficient access. Others would have had a negative impact on the surrounding area.
Why not refurbish and improve the Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre pool? Or build a new centre on the current site?
The new site offers an opportunity to build a modern centre with a better range of facilities. Development on a new site also allows full continuity of use and access by users. Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre can remain open until the new centre is ready.
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre offers no opportunity for major refurbishment or redevelopment. The site is very constrained and too small. We would not be able to provide the scale and range of facilities needed. In particular, we could not provide a larger main pool which we need to meet the needs of a growing population.
Given the age of the facility, refurbishment would also be a short-to-medium-term solution. We would still need to make a decision to provide a new centre soon. Refurbishment would not be a cost-effective approach.
Why is there no sports hall included in the proposals?
Our leisure facilities strategy assesses the demand for sports hall provision. The assessment takes into account current and future use and trends. This evidence shows that we only need one 4-court hall in the area to meet those needs.
The existing 6-court sports hall and squash courts are part of Cedars Upper School. As such the school will keep these after Tiddenfoot closes. The school confirms that it will continue to operate these facilities for community use. We will work with the school to update the current Community Use Agreement (CUA). This will secure the use of both indoor and outdoor sports facilities at the school.
The 6-court sports hall at Cedars Upper School is already larger than the size recommended by the leisure strategy. Providing an extra sports hall in the new leisure centre would exceed the demand. Providing 2 sports halls so close together would also impact the financial viability of both halls. They would be sharing the same amount of demand across two facilities.
Will there be a change in how the community accesses the school sports hall?
Cedars Upper School already lets out pitches to the community. It has a booking system in place, so it would add these facilities to its community offer.
What does a Community Use Agreement (CUA) include?
The CUA is an agreement which secures community access to school sports facilities. A CUA will detail:
- hours of community access: this is usually after school on weekdays, all day weekends and during school holidays
- management arrangements: this details who will manage the facilities when the community is using them
- booking arrangements
Where will activities that need a sports hall take place?
They will be able to use Cedars Sports Hall as they do currently.
Why can't we keep both pools?
Evidence shows there is insufficient demand to sustain two facilities. This evidence comes from the leisure strategy's FPM assessment. It was further reinforced by a feasibility study carried out in the early stages of the project.
Operating 2 pool sites risks the financial viability of both pools. We would have to meet operational costs for both sites. This would include staff, utilities, buildings repair, maintenance and replacement costs. But as there would not be an increase in use, the same level of use would be spread across the 2 sites.
Could another operator manage Tiddenfoot pool?
The current pool is over 50 years old and reaching the end of its useful life. The costs of maintaining and refurbishing the facility are high. The level of demand is not high enough to justify two centres and they would compete against each other. Income would not be enough to justify the high costs of continuing to run the pool.
Why isn't the pool a 'competition' pool?
We will build the new pool to standard Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) dimensions. As a 25-metre community pool, it will be suitable for a range of swimming and leisure activities. This will include competition training and club gala events. The leisure strategy does not identify the need for a competition pool in the area. It highlights the need for flexible facilities offering a range of activities.
A competition standard pool would need a larger pool hall. It would also need increased accommodation for spectators and competitors. The approved design and budget do not include a competition pool.
How much spectator seating will there be poolside?
The proposed centre will provide a major improvement to the current swimming facilities. There will be an 8-lane 25-metre main pool and a learner pool with a height-adjustable floor. There will also be a confidence water. This is a shallow pool that allows young children and non-swimmers to gain confidence in the water.
The main pool isn't intended to provide competition-standard facilities. It will cater for local galas and community or school events and competitions. The initial proposals provided informal spectator seating available for approximately 100 poolside spectators. Following consultation feedback, we have increased this number has been to 130.
Will swimming clubs have access to the new pool site on similar terms to the current pool?
A key aim of the new centre is to provide for the needs of local clubs and the community. We will work with the leisure facility operator to accommodate the needs of clubs and casual swimmers as fully as possible.
There is a current swimming agreement in place. This sets out hours and prices for swimming clubs until March 2025. We will review the agreement once the new centre opens. This will be in consultation with swimming clubs.
Will we consult Sport England and Swim England on the proposed scheme?
We have consulted Sport England and Swim England as part of the development of the project.
Swim England has commented on the new centre and closure of the Tiddenfoot pool. It feels the proposals are reasonable and support the project. It's asked that we work with swimming clubs to minimise disruption to activities. We are talking to swimming clubs. We will also offer full continuity of service until the new centre opens. This will minimise the impact on swimming club activity.
Will my monthly subscription increase once the new facility opens?
Fees are set annually by us in conjunction with our leisure operator. There is no intention to increase the fees outside of this normal process. We want to ensure the new leisure centre remains accessible to as many people as possible.
Will there be some time when leisure facilities aren't available?
The local community will be able to access leisure facilities throughout the project. Tiddenfoot will remain open until we complete construction on the new centre. At this point, we will transfer activities to the new centre. There will only be a very short period of time needed to transfer operations from the old centre to the new one. We will communicate the timing of this in advance.
The sports hall and squash courts at Cedars Upper School will continue to operate as they do now.
Does this mean we will halt ongoing work on the existing leisure centre?
We will continue to ensure existing facilities remain safe, operational and well-maintained. This will continue until the new leisure centre is ready to open.
Will we provide changing facilities for the outdoor pitches beside the proposed centre?
We will be providing changing facilities for the outdoor pitches. These will be in the new leisure centre with direct access out to the pitches.
The proposed development
Will disabled facilities and changing places be available for all?
Yes, all changing areas offer flexibility for all users. Sport England guidance requires us to provide combined accessible toilets and shower rooms for the use of disabled users. We will provide these on both floors. We have designed changing areas for wheelchair users to ensure suitable access.
We will provide 2 ‘Changing places’ rooms- one in the wet change area, and one in the dry side. Both areas will provide a generous change area. This is in compliance with ‘changing places’ guidance. These facilities support users with an accessible changing environment.
Do the proposals include a pool hoist to ensure accessibility to the pool for all?
Both pools will include provision for an 'Oxford Dipper' and 'pool pod.' These provide supported access to the pools. The main pool will also have easy-access stairs with handrails.
Why does the pool not include a wheelchair ramp?
Including a wheelchair ramp at the correct gradient takes up a significant amount of water area. It would prevent 1 swimming lane from being used for swimming at all times. The Oxford Dipper and pool pod provide options for assisted access into the water.
How is the proposed building designed to be sustainable?
An integrated approach to the design will be undertaken. This will focus on:
- health and safety
- design quality
- sustainability
- increased ‘buildability’
- reducing whole-life costs
Measures will include:
- heat pumps; we will incorporate air-source heat pumps to provide 80% of the heating requirements (we will use a backup gas boiler to provide the remaining 20% in cold periods when heat pumps are ineffective)
- e conservation: we will use reduced carbon technologies and high-efficiency plant to reduce energy demand (we will use heat-recovery systems to recover and utilise heat as appropriate)
- water conservation: we will use water-saving devices on sanitary ware
- materials selection: we will consult the Green Guide for responsible sourcing and embodied carbon
- pollution emissions: we will select a mechanical and electrical plant with recognised and acceptable gas emissions
Community
Will the leisure centre provide space that can be used by community groups?
The new leisure centre will include flexible space. Community groups will be able to book this space for meetings and activities.
Parking and access
How many parking spaces will the new leisure centre have?
There will be parking provision for the new leisure centre. This will follow our parking standards.
The car park is likely to provide 230 spaces. We will develop the detailed layout of the car park during the next stage of design development.
Will the new leisure centre have an impact on traffic locally?
We carried out an assessment to determine the impact of the new leisure centre on traffic. Our planning team will consider this as part of the planning application process.
How accessible will the new leisure centre be on foot, public transport or bicycle?
Residents can access the leisure centre via the new Eastern Link Road. This will provide pedestrian paths as well as a cycleway. The centre will connect to a network of other cycle and footpaths. These are being provided by the housing development.
We are working with partners to improve cycling and footpath links between Clipstone Park and the wider area.
A new bus stop will serve the leisure centre.
Environment
What are we doing to protect the natural environment?
We will keep existing vegetation such as hedgerows and trees as far as possible. We will limit the removal of existing vegetation. We will keep the majority of existing hedgerows. We will enhance the retained vegetation with extra planting. This will improve the connectivity and biodiversity value across the site.
We commissioned an ecology survey to support the planning application. This will help inform the preparation of a management plan for the site. The plan will set out measures to establish and safeguard the natural environment.
What about wildlife? How are we protecting it?
Our Ecology Team has advised on the assessments required. These will help us to embed measures for the protection of wildlife into the project. We have carried the recommended assessments out. We have submitted them as part of the planning application.
Who will manage the new landscape areas?
We will manage the new centre and its landscaped areas.
Construction
When do we expect to start building work?
We expect that works would start on site in 2023. This is subject to securing planning permission and carrying out pre-commencement planning conditions.
How long will building work take?
We haven't yet finalised the construction period. It is likely to need approximately 22 months on site.
Will the construction work be noisy?
Some of the construction operations will be noisy. The building contractor will operate to the Good Contractor Code of Conduct. This restricts working hours.
We will register the site with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. They will undertake regular checks on the site.
The contractor will notify local residents of noisy work or large deliveries. This will be through letter drops.
What hours will we be working?
8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, and occasionally 8am to 1pm on Saturday, if required