Nigel Hawkins

Service Manager – Business Support

Leisure and Community Services

Nottingham City Council

Woodthorpe Grange

Woodthorpe Drive

Nottingham NG5 4HA

 

 

Your Ref: NH/LO/145
 

Save Noel Street Baths Campaign

c/o Sumac Centre

245 Gladstone Street

Nottingham

NG7 6HX

 

 

 

 

 

10th September 2004

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Dear Mr Hawkins

 

Re: Noel Street Leisure Centre

 

 

Thank you for your letter of 3rd September 2004 and for your offer to meet with us to discuss our concerns. At the moment, we are undertaking an information-gathering exercise and prior to meeting you, we would be grateful if you could answer various questions we have on a range of issues relating to the pool closures, set out below. We apologise for the number of the questions but we find that it is hard to get consistent answers from the various bodies and individuals concerned. We would also be grateful if you could provide us with any reports that are relevant to our questions.

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

We would like to know how the usage figures for swimming in Nottingham were compiled and interpreted.

 

1.       How were the usage figures for swimming pools collated? Did they take into account factors such as closures and reduced opening times of pools?

 

2.       How many fewer swimming visits were made as a result of the closure of the Northern Baths? Has the analysis of the usage figures taken into account this closure?

 

3.       What are the projected usage figures for the city’s swimming pools after the closure of Noel St and other pools? By how much would the number of swimming visits be expected to increase if Noel St was to be refurbished? By how much would the number of swimming visits be expected to reduce if Noel St was closed?

 

 

We would like to know about the costs of refurbishing and operating Noel St and other leisure facilities.

                           

1.       What would be the cost of refurbishing Noel Street Leisure Centre? What proportion of this would be spent on the roof, boiler etc.? What other capital expenditure would be required in the future? What are the running costs of Noel St and other centres? What is the expected reduction in running costs if Noel Street were to be refurbished?

 

2.       From where will be money come to maintain a new pool at Djanogly or a refurbished Victoria Leisure Centre? Will they be maintained or will the Council allow them to deteriorate as with existing pools?

 

3.       Has the Council investigated the cost of solar water heating on the roof of Noel St and investigated the effect of this on running costs and the possibility of grants towards the cost?

 

4.       Has the Council considered the wider implications of closing Noel St on crime, community, health, employment, economy etc? Has consideration been given to the impact on the community? Has a value been placed on the externalised costs as a result of closure - for example the financial impact of increased crime (costs to police etc), reduced health (leading to costs to benefit and health systems), costs to individuals to pay for private gym membership; costs due to redundancies amongst staff?

 

 

 

We would like to know about the leisure facilities there will be in the area after the closure of Noel St and about the possible new facility at Djanogly College.

 

1.       Are they any plans for the Noel St site if it is closed?

 

2.       Is the new Djanogly development guaranteed or just a proposal? What is the time-scale? Would the new pool be open by the time Noel St closes?

 

3.       How would the running costs of a new pool at Djanogly compare with those for Noel St?

 

4.       If a new pool is built on a school site, how would this affect public access in relation to child protection? Would the public be able to access the pool during school hours for, for example, lunchtime swimming?

 

5.       If the new pool is financed through PFI, what will be the status of the pool - will it still be publicly owned and controlled? What is the total cost of building through PFI as compared to a publicly funded project? What influence would a private partner have over the use of the pool?

 

6.       How big would the new pool be? Would it be rectangular and able to be divided into lanes or would it be unsuitable for adult swimming, like Rushcliffe Leisure Centre?

 

7.       What is the argument for building on a school site? Would a separate site provide more access for the general public? Has the Council investigated the availability of building the new facility on other brown field sites in the area? Why not rebuild on the Noel St site?

 

8.       What is the expected life span of the new facility? After construction, what capital costs will need to be met during this period? What will happen when the building reaches the end of its life span?

 

 

 

Thank you for your time and apologies again for the large number of questions. Our next meeting will be on 6th October 2004 and we would be very grateful if you could reply in writing by then. Please use the e-mail address above if you wish to get in touch with us for any reason.

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adrian Bhagat

Save Noel Street Baths Campaign

www.savenoelstreet.org.uk