Following a meeting of the partners involved in the Deepings Leisure Centre this week, we're keen to break the deadlock and move the situation forward.
Last year, the Deepings Leisure Centre CIC and Anthem Trust made it clear to the county council that the cheapest way to bring the site back into use was for us to demolish the current building and allow them to explore options to build a new centre.
After many years of fruitless conversations since the leisure centre was closed in 2021, Lincolnshire County Council is keen to break the deadlock on this situation and start the ball rolling on plans to bring community leisure facilities back to the Deepings.
After another disappointing meeting of all the partners involved in the project this week, it is clear that these conversations are no further on around the future use of the site as a new leisure facility that both the community and the school can benefit from.
The county council has been very patient throughout this process and provided a number of extensions in the hopes that the parties involved would come to an arrangement.
However, as the owners of the building, we cannot allow it to continue to deteriorate indefinitely without action; it would be unsafe and does a disservice to the residents of the Deepings.
Our £850,000 remains committed to the project and we are now advancing with the first phase. We plan to sign a lease agreement with the Anthem Trust and then, as per their request, provide this funding for them to demolish the former leisure centre.
This would allow the academy to explore options to build a new sports hall, gym and studio on the site.
Anthem Trust have been clear that they want to see a community benefit to any new facility, as well as providing much needed space for their pupils.
The CIC have now said they have no further desire to be part of that conversation, unless a space is set aside for a swimming pool to be added at a later date.
The Trust can continue working with South Kesteven District Council and any other interested groups about further funding and what the community benefit of a new centre might look like.