Council release update on Goole Hub plans

October 13, 2023

 

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has provided further details about the proposed £17 million transformation of Goole Leisure Centre into the Goole Hub.

Following a consultation with residents, customers, local sports organisations and other interested parties, the council says many of the issues and ideas raised have now been included in the revised proposals ahead of the proposals being submitted for planning approval by the council’s design partners, Wilmott Dixon. The main changes to the original proposals will see the sports hall retained and a health suite added. As per the original plans, Goole library and customer service centre will relocate to the Hub and there will also be a more visible central core and café area with a new learner pool located at the front, and tag active and play at the rear. As well as the six-lane bowling alley featured in the original plans, the venue will now also offer a new sensory area.

On the first floor, the gym space has been re-designed and will be vastly improved, and there will be an enhanced fitness offer, with all fitness facilities on the same floor. In the updated plans Goole Museum will now remain in its current location on Carlisle Street. A planning application is in the process of being submitted and if approved works will start on site in January 2024, with completion planned for summer 2025.

Councillor Nick Coultish, the council’s portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “This proposed scheme is very exciting for Goole and will provide a wonderful new facility for the town, and for our East Riding Leisure members. We recognise the inconvenience that will be caused by the lengthy closure of East Riding Leisure Goole, but we promise that the wait will be worth it. “A whole range of alternative arrangements will be in place during the closure period, and we continue to work hard to ensure the best possible alternatives can be made available. We will also communicate with residents and customers throughout the process.” The Goole Town Deal will be contributing £3.372 million of the total £17 million.

On behalf of Goole Town Deal Board, its chair Phil Jones said: “We’re delighted to see these exciting proposals for East Riding Leisure Goole, which will transform the venue into a modern leisure hub, with a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, bowling alley and more to attract new user groups. "We see each of the projects that have been allocated a share of the Goole Town Deal funding as individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that will come together to have a transformative effect on the town. We consider the Goole Hub an important ‘anchor’ destination, which, alongside the other seven Goole Town Deal-funded projects, will help to boost footfall in the town centre and enhance the local economy."

During the construction period and the closure of the centre, it is intended that gym provision and group exercise classes will move to the Goole College site, subject to planning permission being granted for that site. A group exercise and health programme will be developed and implemented during the closure. During the closure East Riding Leisure core and corporate members will see reductions in their membership fees with details being announced to members in due course. For those Goole members who remain with East Riding Leisure during the closure period, discounted membership will continue for six months after the venue reopens. The 14 resident clubs and groups based at the leisure centre will also be offered advice, support and funding for any additional costs needed to relocate. In several cases, alternative locations have already been agreed during the closure period. Other East Riding Leisure Centres (and other providers) have been approached to see if they can also offer temporary facilities. School swimming lessons will be delivered through a condensed programme in 2023/24 and any school which cannot be accommodated has been offered relocation to other East Riding Leisure centres, with a new school swimming programme being created for the reopening in 2025. General swimming will continue until the closure of the centre and thereafter the council is looking at providing bus services from the centre to other local providers during the closure. There will also be a programme of community activity delivered to complement the group exercise programme, and other activity offered from the temporary College site. The planning application will include provision in the future for a squash court, but there is currently no funding available for that facility. Councillor Coultish added : “Please follow our social media channels and the local media for progress on this exciting project to bring amazing new facilities to Goole.”

For more information about Goole Town Deal and the other seven projects to have been allocated a share of funding, visit: https://www.gooletowndeal.co.uk/

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has revealed new CGI images of what Goole Leisure Centre could look like following its £17 million renovation. (05-10-142 SU)

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