New Portsmouth swimming and leisure centre could be built in Bransbury Park in Milton

A new swimming pool and leisure centre could be built in the south east of Portsmouth as part of a ‘once-in-a-generation’ plan.
A new swimming and lesiure facility could be built in Bransbury Park to replace Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

Pictured: Eastney Swimming Pool during its 100th anniversary

PICTURE:JONATHAN BRADY    045343-25A new swimming and lesiure facility could be built in Bransbury Park to replace Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.

Pictured: Eastney Swimming Pool during its 100th anniversary

PICTURE:JONATHAN BRADY    045343-25
A new swimming and lesiure facility could be built in Bransbury Park to replace Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre. Pictured: Eastney Swimming Pool during its 100th anniversary PICTURE:JONATHAN BRADY 045343-25

The city council has revealed proposals the create a new leisure and community facility - potentially on the site of the present centre at Bransbury Park - and is asking residents to provide feedback.

If approved at a future date the site would also replace Eastney Swimming Pool and Wimbledon Park Sport Centre, after a report showed the pool alone would need £850,000 to keep it in working order.

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Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said it was a 'once in a generation opportunity.'

Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said it was a 'once in a generation opportunity.'

Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)
Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said it was a 'once in a generation opportunity.' Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)
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It is planned this allocated cash would be used with potential funding secured through Sports England to provide the new ‘21st century’ build.

Deputy council leader and leisure boss, Councillor Steve Pitt, said: ‘The pandemic has made it more important than ever to invest in sport and leisure and get more people active. At the same time we must look at our current provision and make challenging financial decisions to invest in the future so we have fit-for-purpose and accessible facilities for all our residents to use.

‘We have got a once-in-a-generation opportunity to actually take a proper hard look at our leisure facilities is and make them available for residents as a 21st century offer.

'For example, a really key consideration is that Eastney does not have disability access. It is also a deep pool that is not suitable for learners.’

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It comes as the council recently announced plans for a £2.5m redevelopment of the Pyramids Centre in Southsea that would include replacing the pools with a soft-play area.

However, as reported, residents were not consulted on this scheme as the council said it was not possible to keep the pools running.

Cllr Pitt added: 'The only options left were to close the centre completely or find a way to keep it open before the building inevitably reaches the end of its life.'

If the new centre at Bransbury Park is built it is planned the land at Eastney Swimming Pool and the Wimbledon Park Centre would be kept by the council and redeveloped into 'something sympathetic to the area and residents,' subject to a public consultation.

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To take part in the survey visit portsmouth.gov.uk/sportandleisure or call 023 9261 6708 by December 13.

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