Manchester City Council is seeking residents’ views on proposed new swimming pools and libraries in Chorlton, Levenshulme and East Manchester.
Significant investment has been made in new community leisure facilities in Manchester over the last 10 years but older buildings in Levenshulme, Miles Platting and Chorlton have been identified as having high running costs, offering poor value for money and not meeting modern standards.
There is a compelling case to develop new facilities in Chorlton, Levenshulme and East Manchester to provide high quality facilities and services within the district centres while making year-on-year operational savings. This echoes the
successful model of bringing together services under one roof adopted elsewhere in the city in places such as Wythenshawe Forum.
The proposed new buildings will provide up-to-date services while reducing the running costs associated with outdated buildings. The new facilities will improve services for local residents and help regenerate district centres.
The proposals involve the creation of a new joint leisure and library centre in the centre of Chorlton, development of a new leisure centre in East Manchester, and the development of a joint leisure and library centre in Levenshulme District Centre.
The proposals would increase the number of Manchester residents within 20 minutes walk or public transport travel time of a swimming pool - a goal recognised by Sport England and the Amateur Swimming Association - from 91 per cent to 97 per cent.
The residents of Chorlton, Levenshulme and East Manchester all have the opportunity to express their views in separate consultations.
The consultations focuses on three key principles which will benefit Manchester residents. The principles state that all facilities whenever possible should be located in community hubs and meet the needs and requirements of the surrounding neighbourhoods, where residents can access activities, information and advice under one roof.
That the Council should continue to work with commercial partners and external funding bodies to provide new facilities, to improve customer satisfaction and reduce running cost.
And finally, that all Manchester City Council residents should live within a 20-minute walk, cycle or public transport journey to a high quality swimming pool.
Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure said, "These innovative proposals would provide modern library and leisure facilities fit for the 21 Century for the residents of Chorlton, Levenshulme and East Manchester. By consulting with local residents we can ensure that the new facilities are ideally suited to the neighbourhoods they're in."
Resident's have until Saturday 24 June 2012 to take part in the consultation.
To take part in any of the consultation please visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/consultations
For more information about the background to the proposals please visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/LeisureReview.pdf