Members of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Western Area Planning Sub-Committee have approved plans for the £17 million transformation of Goole Leisure Centre into the Goole Hub.
The leisure centre has been vacated and initial work has already started on clearing the site, ahead of the council’s contractors and design partners, Wilmott Dixon, commencing work. During the transformation, the sports hall will be retained and a health suite added, whilst Goole Library and Customer Service Centre will relocate to the Hub. There will be a central core and café area, and the new learner pool will be located at the front, with Tag Active and Play at the rear. The venue will also offer a new sensory area. On the first floor, the gym space has been re-designed, and there will be an enhanced fitness offer, with all fitness facilities on the same floor. The first floor will also include a new atrium space. It is hoped that completion will be in summer, 2025.
Councillor Nick Coultish, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “This scheme is very exciting for Goole and will provide a wonderful new facility for the town, and for our East Riding Leisure members. I am absolutely delighted that work can now get under way on the site. “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 are in place during the closure period, and we continue to work hard to ensure the best possible alternatives are made available. We will also communicate with residents and customers throughout the process.”
The Goole Town Deal will be contributing £3.372million of the total £17 million. During the construction period and the closure of the Centre, gym provision and group exercise classes have moved to the former Goole College site. A group exercise and health programme has been launched. The 14 resident clubs and groups based at the Centre have been offered advice and support and funding for any additional costs needed to relocate. School swimming lessons will be delivered through a condensed programme in 2024 and any school which cannot be accommodated has been offered relocation to other East Riding Leisure centres. A new school swimming programme will be created for the reopening in 2025. General swimming is now being offered at the Axholme Leisure Centre, with the council providing bus services from Goole to the Centre. There is also a programme of community activity to complement the group exercise programme, and other activity offered from the temporary College site. The planning application includes 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.” (18-01-138 SU)
