Leisure centre faces closure under council plans

Leicester City Council has set out plans to permanently close the New Parks Leisure Centre.

Officials said the 51-year-old building in St Oswald's Road is the least used of the seven leisure centres it runs, requires £2.8m of repairs over the next few years, and is no longer financially viable.

However, the authority has proposed investing £8m to upgrade Leicester Leys Leisure Centre in Beaumont Leys.

It said it would not make any final decisions until the end of a six-week consultation, which started on Tuesday.

Council documents indicate social housing could be built on the site of the New Parks Leisure Centre if a final decision to close it is confirmed.

The council said there were 1,347 registered users of the New Parks complex, and claimed many people in the area already used other nearby facilities.

"The centre is constrained by its age, condition, design and layout, leaving no realistic opportunity for redevelopment or reconfiguration that would significantly improve its appeal and overall performance," a report stated.

Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for health, culture, libraries and community centres, said: "We've invested heavily in our leisure centres over recent years, transforming facilities across the city and helping to increase usage to more than two million visits a year.

"We now have the opportunity to make a major investment at Leicester Leys – one of our most popular centres - creating a modern leisure, library and wellbeing hub that can serve local families for many years to come.

"At the same time, we want to hear people's thoughts on the possible closure of New Parks Leisure Centre and the challenges the site faces.

"No decisions have been made, and I encourage everyone with an interest to take part in the consultation and share their views."

Under the proposals, Beaumont Leys Library would be relocated to the Leicester Leys Leisure Centre.

New flumes would also be installed.

There would be upgrades to the leisure pool and fun pool area, including new features for babies, toddlers and young children.

A140-capacity fitness station gym with new equipment would also be developed alongside a new dance studio which would also serve as a "community wellbeing space".

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