The Council has full planning consent to locate the new leisure centre on the playing field at Wood Lane, Louth. A corner of the Wallis House site will be used.
Were other sites considered?
Yes. In addition to Wood Lane, Monks Dyke School, King Edward School, Cordeaux School, the Louth Sports Association ground, and Louth Industrial Estate (Fairfield) were considered.
Consideration of all options is detailed within the Planning Justification Document within which consideration was given to the alternative sites. This document is available within the public domain. The relevant information was replicated in reports to Executive Board and Council.
In the report to the planning committee the officer addresses the issue by going through each alternative site and stating why they were discounted, assessing the matter against planning policy and then reaching the conclusion that the application complies with the relevant national, regional and local policy principles regarding the location and this type of facility.
Wood Lane was deemed the most suitable location for a leisure centre due to sustainability and access.
Why was the existing swimming pool site not an option?
After considerable consultation the leisure project was designed to take account of the requirements of the community. At the same time the Council took into consideration all reasonable objections.
The development plans for the Leisure Centre came from:
· the facility requirements as outlined in the independent assessment of leisure provision in Louth (based on national governing body requirements) as a result of the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) having deemed leisure provision as one 'weak' area for the Council. · the facility requirements that the public then said they needed, through extensive consultation.
To house the best mix of facilities that catered for the widest possible cross-section of the community and which would satisfy national governing body requirements, the leisure centre plan could measure (at a minimum) 4891m2 plus car parking to reflect the predicted amount of throughput by car of 3500m2.
Added on to these figures was then a service access route of 300m2 and the total plans now cover a footprint of 8691m2.
The current pool site, including the carparking and lorry park, measures just over 5000m2. This site was therefore deemed unsuitable for the community leisure centre - it was simply not large enough.
What will be included?
- 25m x 8 lane pool with moveable floor. - Leisure pool with slides and other features - ‘Health Suite’ (sauna, steam etc.) - Sports Hall - Fitness Suite - Dance Studio - Treatment Room (Physiotherapy etc.) - Multi-purpose space (for meetings and other leisure pursuits) - Crèche with outdoor and indoor play area - IT suite - Exhibition Space - Café and social area - Bar (for occasional use) - Outdoor changing rooms - Car Park
What materials will be used in building the leisure centre?
Decisions on materials are currently being finalised, as a planning condition of the build. Discussions with Planning Officers are centred on making the buildings ‘fit-in’ with their surroundings and be pleasing on the eye, whilst being sustainable options.
Will it be a 'green' building?
In the course of finalising the design, we looked at the feasibility of all possible means of trying to reduce dependency on non-renewable energy for two reasons – environmental concerns and running costs.
Throughout the design process consideration has been given to the combination of mechanical and electrical services systems which would create optimum conditions of economics and performance bearing in mind initial cost, energy efficiency, and operating / maintenance costs of the systems and components and lowest possible life cycle costs.
An integrated approach to the design was undertaken, with input from the design team, constructors and suppliers to improve the design quality, sustainability, buildability, and health and safety with a consequent reduction in whole-life costs. A specialist mechanical and electrical adviser was engaged to assist this process.
The optimum gains, set against capital outlay, are frequently to be found in measures which improve energy consumption through good ‘house keeping’, rather than from overt high-capital measures.
The measures, which have been incorporated in the design, are considered to be realistic, practical and cost efficient and will enable the facilities to achieve a good BREEAM rating (energy efficiency assessment) when this is introduced for leisure facilities (expected in near future).
Could tennis be played in the new sports hall?
· It will be large enough to house one full size tennis court, or several short-tennis courts. · In addition to the above, the Council's Executive Board has asked officers to continue discussions regarding the possibility of an indoor tennis centre in Louth. Nothing has yet been agreed with the potential operator but discussions are in hand. Officers will take a further report to Councillors in due course should these discussions prove fruitful.
Are pitches going to be lost as a result of this centre being built on Wood Lane?
No! A visual breakdown of pitch availability pre, during and post implementation of the Community Leisure Project is available for viewing by clicking HERE.
After the project is complete, the 2008 football season will then see an increase in full size pitches from five to seven, mini soccer pitches from one to five and youth pitches from one to two. The pitch configuration is subject to alteration dependant upon the popularity of each and the grass area available.
I've heard there are drainage issues on the pitches. What's being done about this?
A variety of additional pitch improvement works began on site in the last week of March in preparation for the Monks Dyke pitches being suitable for play by September 2007. In addition to the proposed fencing, the works included the re-excavation of perimeter dykes and general ground and drainage works to improve the overall quality of the playing surface.
Monks Dyke School has worked closely with the Council and agreed with the proposed timetable for the above works. The East Lincs Combination League has also been kept informed as to these discussions on a regular basis.
Prior to the football season beginning in 2008, the Council has also enhanced drainage on the existing Wood Lane pitch. In addition, prior to season beginning in 2009, the lower pitch at Monks Dyke will see additional drainage work being undertaken. These two elements are included within the planning application for Wood Lane as conditions to the plan.
What's being done about traffic on this site?
The Council recognises that the flow of traffic may increase as a result of the facility being open to the public. However, The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) carried out by Morgan Tucker Associates identifies Wood Lane as an important route on the east side of Louth. Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 13 (Transport) advocates that development comprising leisure services should not be designed and located on the assumption that the car will represent the only realistic means of access for the vast majority of people; they must be accessible by public transport, walking and cycling in order to promote social inclusion.
Wood Lane fits that criterion and this will be aided by the County Council’s Community Travel Zone Scheme, where cycle paths will be installed and the walk/cycleway through from Monks Dyke Road to Wood Lane via Railway Walk will see a direct, DDA compliant access from that walk onto Wood Lane.
Was noise pollution taken into account before Wood Lane was chosen as the most suitable site?
Yes it was. Acoustic Associates in Peterborough undertook an Environmental Noise Assessment for the Community Leisure Project on behalf of the Council in August 2005. They looked specifically at the Wood Lane site. Background noise was monitored at the site over a week long period. A computer model of the development was then used to predict the noise levels at the nearest dwellings due to the leisure centre. These predicted levels were compared with background noise measurements to assess the likelihood of complaints. Using the criteria defined in British Standard BS4142: 1997 – ‘Rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas’, the assessment showed that an acceptable situation would be achieved in terms of noise for all nearby dwellings.
In addition, following guidance from the World Health Organisation, noise levels within the nearest dwellings due to the leisure centre were found to be well below maximum levels recommended.
I’ve read quite a few comments in the local press. Is it true that the Council has received a significant number of objections yet made a decision to go ahead regardless?
No. Formal objections (in writing) to the Wood Lane planning application totalled just eight individuals. No petitions were submitted. Those people were read out at the planning meeting and some took the opportunity to speak to the Committee.
The Committee voted unanimously in favour of the planning application.
Is it true that local residents will lose some of their land as a result of the project construction on Wood Lane?
Absolutely not. This development in no way infringes upon the land of people in immediate proximity to the site.
Why were the trees taken down before construction work was due to begin?
Work started on the Wood Lane site immediately after planning consent was granted (February 15, 2007) with the removal of some Leylandii hedging. On the advice of Wildlife and Conservation Officers this was undertaken early in the scheme to avoid the bird-nesting season later in the Spring. These trees are not protected.
A major landscape programme is planned for the development that will include significant planting of new trees and shrubs. It is hoped that some community involvement can be linked to this programme to encourage interest in the natural landscape development of the site.
Some say that this project will take away a valuable piece of green space in Louth. What is the Council committed to doing to ensure this project is sympathetic to these people’s concerns?
The piece of land used for the development of the leisure centre at Wood Lane represents only a small percentage of the green space remaining in Louth. In total, there remains to be 433,890m2 of green recreational space in the town.
Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 17 ‘Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation’ (July 2002) suggests that provision of facilities for new recreational uses will be supported, provided they enhance the character of open spaces and consider the impact on the biodiversity and nature conservation.
The Council is committed to ensuring that the development is sympathetic to the local surroundings whilst balancing this with the national and regional objectives to achieve a major increase in participation in sport and physical activity because of the significant health benefits and the growing costs of inactivity. This is in line with the policy as determined within the ‘Game Plan’ – Department for Communications, Culture and Sport (Dec 2002)
A significant investment has already been made by the Council to the enhancement of green spaces and public areas in and around the town. Examples include the Gatherums project (£60k), imminent Hubbard’s Hills regeneration work (£150k) and improvements to play areas (£152k).
Where can I find out more information about the decision not to register the land at Wood Lane as a village green?
You should contact Lincolnshire County Council, who are ultimately responsible for making the decision as Common Land Registration Authority for the County.
It is their Planning and Regulations Committee who made two decisions to reject an application for Wood Lane playing fields - the first in June 2007 and the second in February 2008.
