£4m programme of 'essential' improvements at Shropshire leisure and arts centre gets go-ahead
Nearly £4m of improvements will be made at a Shropshire leisure and arts centre after councillors gave plans the go-ahead.
Shropshire Council said the programme of essential repairs and improvements to Bishop’s Castle Arts and Leisure Centre, also known as SpArC, had been given the go-ahead after the authority's cabinet agreed on Wednesday (September 10) to allocate money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to help make it happen.
The refurbishment includes two major projects - a decarbonisation initiative and a pool refurbishment.
A statement from the council said: "The decarbonisation project will replace the aging and expensive to run oil-fired boiler with an all-electric heating system, significantly reducing carbon emissions by 70 per cent and lowering running costs.
"The pool refurbishment will address essential repairs to the building’s roof and the installation of easy access steps, making the facility more accessible, especially for older people, families with babies and toddlers and the disabled.
"The cost of these two important improvements is expected to cost £3.939 million, with funding coming from many different sources."
The breakdown will see £2.454 million provided from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, £680,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), £505,000 from the council’s capital repairs budget, and £250,000 donated by the trustees of the Bishop’s Castle Save the SpArc charity.
Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, said: “This refurbishment is a significant investment in our community. It will not only enhance the facilities at SpArC but as more people use the centre it also will ensure its sustainability for future generations.
“While we face a financial emergency, it is worth nothing that this is a capital project and therefore the money does not come from council tax, nor is it something that can just be cancelled to save money in this financial year to keep the council afloat. In fact, the decarbonisation and expanded works are expected to reduce running costs via energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs in the short to medium term, proving its benefit to the whole council in this time of crisis.”
SpArC has the benefit of being very well supported by its local community.
There is an active group of trustees who raise significant funds to provide enhancements to the SpArC site.
They have already raised and invested more than £250,000 including the provision of fitness equipment, a cafe, pocket park and donations towards the theatre and arts.
A further £250,000 has now also been raised to put towards improvements to the pool.
Councillor Owen added: “It’s an incredible achievement and a great example set by the trustees and we’re very grateful for these generous contributions which will make such a difference to the centre and the people who use it. Our administration is keen to work in partnership with other communities across Shropshire in a similar fashion.”
Councillor Ruth Houghton, Shropshire councillor for Bishop’s Castle, said: “This is wonderful news for Bishop’s Castle and south west Shropshire. It means that local primary schools can teach pupils to swim, as is required in the national curriculum, without having to travel too far.
“I would like to thank the local community, including individuals, community groups, local businesses and town and parish councils, for all their support. It has been generous and unwavering during the fundraising campaign. This is a huge achievement which everyone should be very proud of.”
