Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence, which was recommended for approval subject to the six conditions, as outlined in the report.

 

Councillor C. Munslow, representing Monmouth Town Council, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

 

·         50% of the cost of building the original swimming pool, which has now been demolished to make way for the new comprehensive school, was provided by public subscription.

 

·         It is important for the users in the Monmouth area that the new swimming pool is the very best that can be achieved.

 

·         The Town Council is not aware that any public consultation has been held in respect of the design.

 

·         The swimming pool, as previously designed in the comprehensive school, was to have six lanes.  However, the new swimming pool, to be located in the leisure centre, will only have five lanes, possibly only four, which is a concern,

 

·         The proposed width of the swimming pool lanes is being reduced to 2.1 metres.  The national recommended preferred width is 2.5 metres.

 

·         Having measured the sports hall, the Town Council is confident that there is sufficient room to have six lanes at 2.5 metres wide, leaving a 2 metre wide perimeter.

 

·         There are concerns regarding the lack of spectator viewing facilities.  There are no viewing facilities proposed to accommodate a swimming gala or generally for parents to view their children during swimming lessons.

 

·         A viewing area could be provided by moving the pool within the gymnasium by about 1 metre north-west towards the plant room enabling a first floor viewing area to be built across the end of the swimming pool.  This could be accessed via the first floor corridor.

 

·         The use of solar panels could be used to heat the swimming pool which would reduce energy costs.

 

·         Before the application is approved, the Town Council has requested that further public consultation be undertaken, as this is an opportunity to ensure that the best solution is found.

 

The applicant’s agent, Mr. David Hamer, attended the meeting by invitation of the Chair and outlined the following points:

 

·         The remodelling of the leisure facility on the Monmouth site is in keeping with a new model leisure facility.

 

·         It is cost effective and relevant to the population that it serves.  Efforts have been made to maximise space and improved swimming pool facilities.

 

·         The swimming pool will be 25 metres in length with five lanes which is in accordance with all sports’ governing body requirements.

 

·         Future play, fitness and wellbeing needs for the community of Monmouth is being provided.

 

·         The new facilities are in line with feasibility studies completed over the previous year.

 

·         The width of the swimming pool is 10.5 metres in total with five lanes. This is in line with Sports’ Governing Body use for community and local competition.

 

·         British swimming guidelines state a lane width of 2 metres and a minimum width of 0.2 metres outside the first and last lanes. The 10.5 metre pool provides this.

 

·         There are free areas available to view the activities taking place within the swimming pool on the ground and first floors.

 

·         Regarding sustainability and energy use, a number of measures that address these issues have been included in the proposals.  An important aspect being the re-use of the existing building and minimising new building footprint.  Upgrading to LED lighting, energy efficient lighting controls, improvements to the environmental building management systems to improve boiler efficiencies and heating control and the provision of new energy efficient air handling and cooling plant.

 

The local Member for Dixton with Osbaston, also a Planning Committee Member, outlined the following points:

 

·         At a previous meeting of Full Council it had been agreed that Monmouth would receive a better swimming pool compared to the original pool that has now been demolished.

 

·         The original pool was removed to allow the comprehensive school to be located within the required site.  There was consideration given to providing a 50 metre swimming pool suitable for international swimming. However, it was noted that his would not be affordable.  Instead, a swimming pool would be provided that would be suitable to accommodate swimming galas and one that the town would be proud of.

 

·         The plans leave off the width of the swimming pool. Discussions had been held in which the required lane width should be 2.4 metres to bring the swimming pool up to competition standard, to hold swimming galas and to allow enough room for swimmers to be able to swim the butterfly stroke.  The swimming pool in the school was altered to meet these requirements.

 

·         Now, due to lack of funding, the swimming pool is being moved away from the comprehensive school to be located at the sports hall.  Due to the size of the sports hall, the swimming pool will become a four lane pool.

 

·         Promises to Monmouth town have been broken.

 

·         There is no seating for viewing.  Neither is there any seating for competitors.

 

·         In order to accommodate the swimming pool, the sports hall has been taken away from the leisure centre and put into the comprehensive school.  Therefore, this is only available to the public during out of school hours.

 

In noting the detail of the application, some Members expressed the following points in support of the application:

 

·         The application makes the best use of what might be made of the facilities available.

 

·         Affordability of a scheme is not a planning consideration.

 

·         The requirements of the swimming bodies has been met by the size of the swimming pool.

 

·         The additional facilities that will be afforded by this development will be a great benefit to Monmouthshire.

 

·         The swimming pool will be 25 metres in length with five lanes which meets appropriate guidelines regarding the width of the pool.

 

·         The pool depth ranges from 1 metre to 1.8 metres in line with governing body standards.

 

However, other Members expressed their concerns regarding the application, as follows:

 

·         The swimming pool has a reduction in the number of lanes, there is no viewing area and the swimming pool is shallow making it difficult to hold competitions and galas.

 

·         The new plans are a simpler, more cost effective build contrary to what was originally proposed.

 

·         The building is not fit for purpose with regard to its size.

 

·         Further consultation should be undertaken as suggested by Monmouth Town Council.

 

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, it was proposed by County Councillor M. Powell and seconded by County Councillor B. Strong that application DC/2017/00196 be approved subject to the six conditions, as outlined in the report.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the following votes were recorded:

 

For approval              -           9

Against approval      -           3

Abstentions               -           1

 

The proposition was carried.

 

We resolved that application DC/2017/00196 be approved subject to the six conditions, as outlined in the report.