People in the Vale of White Horse have overwhelmingly backed proposals for a new leisure centre.
Last month more than 600 people took part in a consultation asking what they thought of Vale of White Horse District Council plans to build the new leisure centre at Mably Way in Wantage, next to the A417.
With thousands of new homes expected to be built in the district, including at sites such as Grove Airfield and Crab Hill, by 2031, Vale of White Horse District Council is looking to build a new centre to help meet the increasing demand for leisure facilities.
84 per cent of those responding to the survey backed the proposal to build a new centre, with 70 per cent agreeing that Mably Way was a suitable location.
Following the strong support locally the council has confirmed that it will move forward with the plans, with the aim of opening the new centre in 2020.
The budget to deliver the new centre will be £18.8million. The Vale will fund the entire project upfront, however as the new housing developments are built locally the council will receive significant contributions towards this cost from developers. 68 per cent of people responding to the consultation agreed with the proposed funding for the centre and a majority also supported the concept designs.
Cllr Charlotte Dickson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We received a great response to our consultation and I’m delighted to see that the vast majority support our proposal for a new leisure centre.
“Our aim is to open the new centre in 2020, this will help to ensure we have facilities to meet demand as and when it increases across the district.”
“We will now move forward with the plans. This will include taking on board the comments we received during the consultation, confirming what facilities will be included in the final designs, and drawing up a planning application for submission in early 2018.”
For more information about the new leisure centre project please visit www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/newleisurecentre.
