A striking image reveals how a revamped leisure centre will look after plans for its £20 million makeover were approved.
Last night, members of Dover District Council (DDC) voted in favour of taking the next steps in the major overhaul of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal.
The project, estimated to take two years, will see the current 1987-built pool building demolished and replaced by a six-lane pool, a new gym, and a toddler splash pad.
It comes as members of DDC – which is behind the scheme – previously said it was more cost effective to have a new build for the pool rather than refurbish the existing one.
Speaking at last night’s planning committee, Rebecca Tilley of planning agents DHA Planning said: “The proposal seeks to replace the outdated and inefficient hall building at Tides Leisure Centre with a modern, high-quality facility that better serves Deal’s residents and the wider district.
“The existing hall building has reached the end of its operational life and is no longer fit for purpose.
“Redevelopment is not only essential to safeguard continued access to leisure services but to deliver an improvement in the quality of community health and wellbeing infrastructure in the area.
“While the new facility differs in some respects from the existing centre, it represents a significant improvement and has been developed to provide a balanced, inclusive and future-proof offering.”
The current facility, which was drained and closed earlier this year, is home to a wave pool, several slides and a flume.
However, all will be removed as part of the makeover.
Overall, residents lodged 133 comments on DDC’s planning portal in regards to the scheme, with 76 in support and 55 opposing it.
Deborah Rayner commented: “Nobody in Deal wants swin lane pool. We have always had a fun, friendly pool.
“Everywhere else has the boring lanes, why can’t we take advantage of the tourism and have a fun pool.
“You will likely lose lots of customers if you just put in a plain, boring lane swim pool.”
But at last night’s meeting, Cllr Michael Nee (Lab) stated the old facilities were not up for debate.
The Maxton and Elms Vale representative added: “I looked carefully at this and noted a lot of the objections are local users of the pool saying there are a lot of things they’ve enjoyed in the old facility that’s not going to be replicated in the new.
“I think for the money we’re investing and for the facility, this will produce exactly the outcomes the indoor sports facility strategy from 2023 sought to achieve.
“I’m more than comfortable to propose we grant permission because I think the sooner it’s finished, the sooner it’s operational and people will be enjoying it again.”
Overall, councillors voted unanimously to approve the scheme.
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Last month, workers began preparing the site for the demolition of Tides and the former Park Avenue Nursery building, which adjoins the site.
The pool building was earlier this year the target of break-ins, with security staff employed to monitor the site over the Easter and summer holidays.
The demolition of the pool building is set to take place in the autumn this year.
Although the pool building closed in March, the neighbouring tennis courts and sports hall have remained open at the Park Avenue site.
Previously, these dry side facilities were proposed to be temporarily closed while work took place on the rebuild, but fierce backlash from residents, including a 1,100-strong petition against the move, forced a rethink by DDC.
Your Leisure were instead secured as an interim operator in February for the dry facilities.
