STOCKTON Council’s plans to bring a £10million swimming pool, library and customer service point to Ingleby Barwick have taken another step forward.
Following discussions with the Diocese of York, the Council has identified a preferred site within an open area of land on the All Saints Academy site on Blair Avenue.
The Council earmarked £3.2million of funding towards the proposed centre in October last year.
And next week (February 19), the Council’s Cabinet will be asked to recommend that the Council commits a further £7million to progress the scheme.
Stockton Council Leader, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “Stockton is a growing and thriving Borough and a growing population means a growing demand for services as well as a need for us to ensure we improve our infrastructure to keep pace with the change.
“Ingleby Barwick has experienced huge growth over the years but lacks local public leisure facilities, particularly local access to a community swimming pool. What we are proposing will address that gap in provision and we are delighted with the support we have received from the Diocese of York, the Academy and its governors.
“The financial commitment needed to turn this vision into a reality will be considered as part of our Medium Term Financial Plan.”
The Medium Term Financial Plan will be considered by Full Council on Wednesday, February 25.
If the funding is agreed, work could start on site early next year with the facility opening in summer 2017.
Councillor Ken Dixon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, added: “We are looking at a centre with a 25-metre swimming pool, gym, fitness rooms, library and customer service point and associated parking. Our intention would be to consult with local people to identify the precise mix of facilities on offer in the building.
“Local people have been calling for this kind of facility for some time and I’m sure they will be encouraged that we are now making strides to deliver one.”
Headteacher at All Saints Academy, Kevin Mann, said: “We are delighted to be involved in a project which will significantly enhance the facilities available to the people of Ingleby Barwick and would intend to make good use of the facilities ourselves for the benefit of our students.”
The new centre is one of a series of proposed investments designed to support growth in the south of the Borough.
In addition, £19million of improvements are already planned to the highways network in the south of the Borough over the next two years.