Agenda item
Third Pool in Brent - Progress Report
The List of Decisions from the meeting of the Executive that took place on Monday, 19th October 2009 is attached.
Minutes:
The reasons for the call-in were:-
Previous attempts to provide a pool near this location have proposed large amounts of car parking but this report does not quantify the amount of car parking, making a feasibility study with financial implications, as proposed in recommendation 3, impossible to do.
Councillor Van Colle (Lead Member for Environment, Planning and Culture) introduced the report and responded to the reasons for call-in concerning parking provision. Councillor Van Colle advised that a site for the third pool had successfully been obtained, and the next stage would be to consider what would be on the site, including the extent of parking provision. Members heard that the report had mentioned that consultants had identified parking provision as a key risk and issue and that a detailed feasibility study would be undertaken to provide a full appraisal of options with regard to this.
During discussion by Members, Councillor Castle commented that the feasibility study would address the details of the scheme, including what parking provision was viable. Councillor Mistry also felt that details of parking provision could not be determined at this stage, however she suggested that parking spaces should be maximised to encourage wider use in the borough and for use at night as some potential visitors would be put off it they were unable to reach the site by car. She enquired whether the Roe Green Park site identified was a site specific allocation and whether other sites that had been considered also occupied green spaces.
Councillor Powney enquired whether one of the options which made mention of an assumption of 150 parking spaces was an indicative figure and whether a minimum-maximum range of parking spaces could be provided. He commented that the site had good public transport access and felt that a number of people would travel to the swimming pool by this way. Views were sought with regard to developing a site that was located on green space. Councillor Powney expressed surprise that no parameters or identified costs had been made, despite the site having been identified as a potential site for a third pool since 2006.
The Chair sought reasons as to why 150 parking spaces had been suggested and asked whether the proposals, which also included a gym and were larger in scale than previous proposals would impact upon the parking requirements. She also acknowledged that the site had good public transport links and a new bus route would soon be available to travel to this site. The Chair enquired how many spaces existed at other sports and leisure facilities in the borough and when the feasibility study would be carried out.
In reply to the issues raised, Councillor Van Colle stated that the study carried out had not sought to specify parking space numbers and therefore no figures could be provided at this stage, however this would be more closely examined in the feasibility study to follow. At this stage, the priority was to secure the necessary capital funds to develop the site before the finer details of the scheme could be determined. Councillor Van Colle felt that in view of the planning issues involved, that the site was the most appropriate of those considered for a third pool. He agreed that the site was well served by public transport, including numerous bus routes and its proximity to Kingsbury tube station.
Gerry Kiefer (Head of Sports Service, Environment and Culture) confirmed that Willesden Sports Centre’s parking capacity was approximately 150 spaces. She advised that the feasibility study was yet to be commissioned, however the brief for the study was due to go out for quotes around the end of 2009 and the resulting tenders received would give an indication of how long the feasibility study would be expected to take.
Members then decided not to endorse the Chair’s suggestion that the contractor chosen to undertake the feasibility study be briefed to consider parking issues closely and that the number of spaces be minimised to what was practically achievable.
RESOLVED:-
that upon considering the report from the Director of Environment and Culture, the decisions made by the Executive be noted.
Supporting documents: