What would it take politically and monetarily to have a swimming pool built in Watlington, considering the options currently and in the future and mindful of the development at Berinsfield where a current facility, in need of update, resides, and the anticipated planning applications for Chalgrove?
Written Response
Strategic leisure is already in the process of undertaking a strategic review of leisure need across the district in partnership with Sport England, the output of which will be a facilities planning model. That work and model is expected to be ready by the end of this year and its purpose is to identify an appropriate level of sports provision in an area. It will take into account recent and planned population changes and housing delivery, and it is this document that will provide the best basis upon which to make decisions as to where new sports facilities are provided.
Funding for significant capital projects and potential sites would need to be identified in any such case, and clearly s106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) are sources of funding, derived from the development of new homes, that have the potential to be used.
We will of course be very happy to report the findings of the strategic leisure work to Councillor Babcock, particularly in regards to its findings regarding Watlington.