Consultation to be held on Exeter's new sports village

It includes plans to close 16 play areas

Exeter City Council’s executive approved putting the draft strategies for Draft Built Facilities, Playing Fields, Pitches, Play Areas, Parks and Open Spaces out to public consultation.

The plans could see a new community sports village built at Exeter Arena which would include a new leisure centre, a swimming pool, and a virtual ski centre and a new community health and wellbeing centre which replace the existing Wonford sports and community centres.

But Northbrook swimming pool, as well as the Northbrook Approach Golf Course, are both proposed to close.

A total of £3.7m will be invested in play parks, including a £2.4m investment in three new ‘destination play parks’, but up to 16 parks could close as the equipment will need replacing in the next five years.

Council director David Bartram told councillors that the reality is that the city has too many small and simple play areas and not enough larger, exciting and rewarding play areas, and they are not evenly distributed.

He said: “There are a number of play parks coming to the end of their life in the next 5-10 years so we need to make a decision on whether we replace them like for like or try to improve on the provision and address the inequality of distribution throughout the city.”

Exeter City Council currently looks after 83 play parks, but that will rise to at least 90 once new parks are built as part of new housing developments in the city, and Mr Bartram said that the proposals would see that reduced to 80. He added: “We are making a £2.4m investment in three new destination play parks and a total investment of £3.7m in play, although the funding has not yet fully been identified. We want the facilities to be modern robust and exciting for the future.”

Cllr David Harvey, Portfolio Holder for Place, said that there is a patchwork provision for play across the city, and just because you have a large number of parks doesn’t mean the quality of play provision is good.

He added: “It was a trifle frightening to close immediately and technically incorrect in the report that play parks could close, but if we did nothing, we would end up with 90 play parks that we have to look after, and we don’t want to do that.

“We want every child to be able to access a play facility that means they can enhance their development. There are no plans to close anything straight away, despite what it says in there, and I hope and pray we get a cohesive and coherent recreation play for everyone in the city.”

Cllr Phil Bialyk, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Communities and Sport, said that the council needed to engage with local people about this to see what the need for facilities in the city are, and added: “We are not doing this with the long term view to build on anything and we want to reinvest the money we make, not just pile it up.”

He outlined the plans would see the Exeter Arena and the Isca Centre will be redeveloped into a new community sports village and the existing Wonford sports and community centres are set to close and be replaced with a new integrated community health and wellbeing centre.

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, leader of the Conservative Group, said that he welcomed the plans, saying: “Why wouldn’t I, as lots of this was in the last Conservative manifesto. I am happy that we will go out to consultation on this, we will enhance our facilities and that no decisions have yet been made.”

The draft strategies will go for public consultation with a final report to be presented to Council in July 2019.

EXETER ARENA

The Exeter Arena and the Isca Centre will be redeveloped into a new community sports village. It could include:

• A community leisure centre with sprung sports hall and exercise studios
• Martial arts and boxing facilities
• A gymnastic centre which will be a potential new home for Exeter Gymnastics Club
• A state-of-the-art virtual ski centre which includes a ski simulator and a training centre and could be a potential new home for the Exeter Ski Club if they leave Clifton Hill
• An off road cycling track
• A 25m swimming pool as a replacement for the Northbrook Pool, which would close under the proposals
• Beach volleyball court
• Commercial Leisure – possible options to include soft play, Junior Tag/Tag Active and tenpin bowling facility

WONFORD SPORTS CENTRE

The existing Wonford sports and community centres are set to close and be replaced with a new integrated community health and wellbeing centre. It could include:

• A community leisure centre with sprung sports hall and group exercise studios and outdoor facilities.
• A four court sports hall as part of the facility
• Potential for squash court provision to replace those lost at Clifton Hill Sports Centre.
• Primary care centre in partnership with the local NHS.
• Flexible community spaces
• Potentially it could be part of a housing-led mixed use estates based development.

NORTHBROOK POOL

The existing Northbrook swimming pool would close as part of the plan. Replacement pool facilities will be provided at the Exeter Arena Community Sports Village, as would Boxing Club facilities

NORTHBROOK GOLF COURSE

The strategy would see the existing Northbrook Approach Golf Course on Topsham Road close and then sold off. The report says that the site has ‘limited value for wider strategic aims’ given the usage numbers and income and has the potential to generate a very positive capital receipt for the Council, given its location, that could be invested in council priorities including in other leisure sites.

PLAY AREAS

Exeter City Council currently maintains 83 equipped play areas, including other play related facilities such as water play, Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs), basketball hoops, kickabout goals and skate parks.

But the report to the executive says that the growth in Play Areas across the city has largely been development-led as opposed to needs led resulting in an uneven distribution and increased and unsustainable repair and maintenance costs to the Council.

The council therefore is proposing to close 16 play areas within the city. Eight other play area would be upgraded, while three new ‘destination play parks would be created.

Destination play parks would provide for families with children of all age groups, encouraging family based visits, and be facility that will be more diverse in its provision of enjoyment and physical challenges.