Queens Park Leisure Centre: People must speak loudly
Returning from a two week break away from Chesterfield, I find the argument about the proposed new Leisure Centre on Queen's Park Annexe has gathered significant pace.
On all issues surrounding this, I urge your readers to establish clear facts: for example, Chesterfield Borough Council's outsourcing of Tapton Golf Course produces a Green Fees income of some £700,000 which still produced an annual deficit of £80,000 plus.
The actual income is immaterial if it is £80,000 less than the expenditure year on year!
As the Lead Member who outsourced the golf course, I can say that this operation put CBC some £120,000 in annual profit - the £80,000 annual deficit taken on by the lessee plus the annual rental charge.
All maintenance costs are the responsibility of the lessee. Additionally, the installation of the driving range, totally unaffordable by CBC over many years, has been held up so far only by planning issues, not the will of the developer to invest in it.
So, to return to the facts, and important issues, relating to the debate on the proposed new Leisure Centre: is the public happy about sharing access with Chesterfield College in a proposed centre smaller than the existing Queen's Park Leisure Centre?
How will dual use affect local schools? Is the public happy about CBC borrowing £6.5 million to pay for it and paying back at £435 000 a year interest for 25 years?
Is the public happy that other providers such as leisure trusts or the private sector have not been seriously considered?
There just might be a better value way of doing things. Does the proposed move affect the covenant on the Annexe?
And what happens to the current centre and at what cost?
The people of Chesterfield should know the facts and make their views very clearly known before things go ahead?
Cllr Keith Morgan
Former Lead Member for Leisure Services and former Mayor
NB: The above letter was published 13 May 2013 at the website for the Derbyshire Times. To find the original article click here.