Colchester's Leisure World needs £8m investment or face closure

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 08:01 · Archive

Colchester's Leisure World would close permanently without an £8 million investment, the council leader has said.

Colchester's Leisure World would close permanently within months without an £8 million investment, council leader Paul Dundas has said. Councillors met on Wednesday night to discuss the venue's investment plan. The Leisure Pool closed in September and will remain shut until early 2027 while the work is carried out.

Mr Dundas said the Cowdray Avenue site has been underinvested in for years. He said the council faced 'the stark choice of investing in the current site or closing it permanently in the next few months'. He added that the council explored redevelopment and building a new facility, but this 'didn't prove feasible financially at the moment and would leave us with no centre for five years or so'.

Mr Dundas said: 'Neither the council administration or I think it would be remotely acceptable for a city of over 200,000 people such as Colchester to have no public swimming facilities, so we are going to invest and revitalise it for the future.' The council is seeking more investment through grants and the private sector. Conservative councillor Thomas Rowe claimed the plans lack long-term ambition, saying the council risks 'spending millions extending the life of an ageing building without properly exploring the long-term alternatives'.

Colchester's Leisure World needs £8m investment or face closure — Image: Echo (Basildon)

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How it is being reported

Essex leisure centre and pool faced 'permanent closure without £8m investment'Colchester council leader Paul Dundas said Leisure World faced permanent closure within months, without investment.Echo (Basildon) · 14 Nov, 07:45
Leisure World faced permanent closure without £8m investment, council leader saysColchester council leader Paul Dundas said Leisure World faced permanent closure within months, without investment.Colchester Gazette · 13 Nov, 17:00

In this story: Colchester · Paul Dundas · Colchester City Council · Thomas Rowe · Leisure World

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