District councillors agree to leasing land for new Deepings leisure centre and funding bid for all-weather pitch

At a cabinet meeting of South Kesteven District Council on Tuessday, members unanimously agreed the authority should enter into a leasehold for the Linchfield Road Playing Field in Deeping St James.

Deepings Leisure Centre in Park Road in Deeping St James was built in 1974 and is approaching the end of its life. Negotiations have been taking place between the district council, Deeping St James Parish Council and the Anthem Schools Trust (Deepings School), who all have a legal interest in the site to build a new centre on land at the Linchfield Road playing field.

Plans for the new facility include doubling the number of gym stations, providing studios for classes and other activities, building a black box theatre, a 25m pool and a larger café, associated parking and minimal impact on the existing playing fields.

It would involve Deepings School surrendering its interest in the sports field, but would have sole permission to use the remaining sport pitches during school hours.

The councillors have agreed to meet both third parties’ legal costs and gave delegated authority to the chief executive Karen Bradford, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to agree the final terms of the lease which would see each of the parcels of land that make up the site leased by SKDC at a peppercorn rent of £1.

They also agreed to send a Letter of Intent to the Football Foundation proving their plan to lease the land in order to apply for funding for an all-weather pitch on the site to replace an existing artificial pitch which had to be closed due to its age and condition. The council has set aside £200,000 of its project budget towards this.

The funding application is expected to be submitted by January 2021 to be considered in the April 2021 funding round. This could see the development of the artificial pitch completed by October 2021.

Subject to planning and highways approval the leisure centre is expected to be ready for use within two years from when the site is secured.

In a report to the Cabinet, Karen Whitfield, Head of Leisure, said: “The potential to develop an Astroturf pitch on the Linchfield Road site has been met very positively with the majority of the local community and sports clubs in the area. The exception to this is a local hockey club who have expressed dissatisfaction that the District Council are not proposing to develop a dedicated hockey pitch.

“Conversations have taken place with the club to explain the rationale and the District Council have also engaged in conversation with England Hockey.

“The feasibility work currently being undertaken by the District Council in relation to the leisure enhancement programme has also identified a latent demand for a 3G football pitch as part of the new leisure centre development.

She said the development of a leisure centre on this site will complement the existing sports pitch provision and provide a focal point for sports.

She added: “The proposed leasehold arrangements provide the District Council with a cost-effective solution to secure a site for leisure development. This will ensure the funds available can be invested on developing the local facility instead of land costs.”

The district council would receive a contribution from the Deepings School towards the upkeep and grounds maintenance of the fields, councillors were told.

The district council will also foot the £370,000 bill for demolition of the old leisure centre and making good an adjoining wall of the neighbouring school. Once demolished, Lincolnshire County Council and the Anthem Schools Trust intend to build a new sports hall on the school site for sole use by the school with no access for the community.

The council has been progressing plans for new leisure centres in the Deepings and Stamford and a revamp of the centre in Bourne. The council is also investing in the leisure facilities in Grantham.