Cost to use Peterborough's planned £36 million indoor swimming pool to be 'affordable' for public
The cost of using Peterborough’s planned £36 million indoor swimming pool will be kept to an affordable price for city residents, it has been said.
The reassurance was given at the first pop-up consultation event with the public which was being held by Peterborough City Council to discover what people’s thoughts are and what they wish to see in a new pool and sports complex.
It is planned to build the new poor and sports centre on or near the site of the former Regional Pool of Bishop’s Road, close to the ARU Peterborough campus.
Jamie Fenton, partnership manager for culture, sport and leisure for Peterborough City Council, said: “We are working with the operator at the moment but it is important to remember that this is going to be a community facility so we are not going to be looking at a private membership tariff on this.
"It will be pay and go prices for swimming, there will be memberships for the gym and the classes we are expecting this work with the operator to be on a similar price that the former facility would have been as well.
"So this will be affordable for people to be able to come and use.”
He said: "This event is an opportunity to tell people and answer questions about what they would like to see in the new leisure centre and what’s important to them, whether that’s about active travel getting to the site, the facility mix internally.
"What they would like to see in a swimming pool, the fitness centre, the classes, a cafe, soft play.
"This is an opportunity for the public to say what they would really like to see and express any concerns.”
The drop-in session is part of a longer online consultation that is being run by the council until March 29.
The survey asks residents a range of questions and seeks their opinions on topics which will inform the design of the new development.
The indoor swimming pool proposal is to construct an eight-lane, 25 metre pool plus 20 metre learner and teaching pool that will also feature a moveable floor, a cafe, a Tag Active soft play, health and wellbeing rooms, a 150-station fitness suite and two studios, plus a spin studio.
It will replace the former Regional Fitness and Swimming Centre and is expected to form part of a sports quarter at ARU Peterborough.
If the full £36.5 million cost of the project can be secured, construction work will start in early 2027, with completion expected in 2028.
The project has been kickstarted by a £20 million funding announcement by the Government in November from its Growth Mission Fund, subject to the submission of a full business case.
The survey is available to read here.