Keynsham Leisure Centre
Residents had their first chance tonight to see the proposals for a £7m refurbishment of Keynsham Leisure Centre, as well as find out what might happen to the former Riverside offices and fire station site.
During last September’s consultation over 70% of people supported Riverside as the preferred site for a new leisure centre. The other options were Ashton Way, Hawkswell and St Keyna.
The initial plans sparked concerns as no sports hall or squash courts were proposed, nor spectator seating for the pool. A central location was also considered important.
B&NES Council’s new strategy, which went on show at The Space above the library tonight – is a £7m refurbishment and extension of the existing centre, incorporating the old snooker club.
There are currently two options for consultation which both include an improved sports hall (for badminton and other sports), a new teaching pool, refurbished main pool retaining the current viewing gallery, a new soft play area, new and improved changing spaces, new studio spaces, an enhanced fitness suite and keeping the squash courts.
People at the exhibition tonight
Option 1 also includes a new spinning studio and party rooms for private hire. Option 2 would have two fitness suites instead of one, a larger gym above the new learner pool, a double height soft play area and double height learner pool.
Options for the re-use of the Riverside offices include either student or residential flats, with B&NES saying there is no market in Keynsham for large office space.
Meanwhile a possible future use for the vacant fire station site is a new covered market hall and additional disabled parking spaces serving the leisure centre. Market Walk in the new Civic Centre site could be extended to link through to the leisure centre entrance. A new retail frontage on Temple Street is also being suggested.
The refurbishment of Keynsham Leisure Centre is due to start in spring 2017 with all the work carried out in phases so that it can remain open wherever possible. It would be completed by the summer of 2018.
How the redevelopment might look from Keynsham Park
Bath & North East Somerset Council, working in partnership with charitable social enterprise GLL, which operates the council’s leisure centres under the Better brand, is holding four feedback sessions. If you missed the one tonight there is another one on Tuesday at The Space.
There will also be two at the leisure centre itself on Friday 24th June (10am-2pm) and Tuesday 28th June from 4pm – 8pm. People are asked to give feedback on the proposals by 1st July.
An impression of the refurbished Riverside site looking down Temple Street
