Report questions if seafront is best place for new Afan Lido
A QUESTION mark hangs over whether Aberavon Beach is the best place to rebuild the Afan Lido.
Councillors have been told that, were it not part of the wider regeneration of Aberavon Beach, it should instead go up close to the "super-school" the council plans to build in Baglan Moors.
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The original Lido was demolished earlier this year
It's the first time such a view has been expressed publicly, and it came from the authority's own head of partnerships and community development Russell Ward.
"If we want a pure leisure proposal then we want as much leisure for as little revenue cost as possible," he said. "What you don't want to do is build it with 180 degrees of its catchment area in the sea."
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Mr Ward was answering questions and responding to comments raised by the "task and finish" group of councillors set up to revisit the proposals. This followed the failure of the council and campaigning residents to reach agreement on key issues including the provision of eight lanes, which campaigners want, and six lanes, which the council champions.
Another is the location, with residents wanting it rebuilt on its original site and the council favouring Hollywood Park, as the mainly empty site could be regenerated at the same time.
However, from what Mr Ward said, if the Afan Lido was purely a leisure proposal and not linked to the seafront regeneration, that would affect its ideal location.
"If you look at it purely as a leisure opportunity, if you look at where you might put a leisure facility, it would be somewhere with good transport links, preferably as close to major transport routes as possible, and it would have housing all around it," he said.
Neath Port Talbot is to build a £26 million super-school in Baglan Moors. It will replace Glan Afan and Cwrt Sart comprehensives, as well as Sandfields Comprehensive, which would be redeveloped into a Welsh language secondary school.
Mr Ward said: "It would be on a safe walking route between two major schools. It would make sense to locate it where the kids could walk to it, and we would not have to incur transport costs from the education budget. We would also get a huge amount of benefit in terms of cost per brick laid. It would be one huge building project rather than two."
Furthermore, he said, it meant that the pool would not be empty between 9am-5pm, when swimming pools were usually very quiet, as the schoolchildren could make use of it.
Mr Ward also admitted he could support the idea of an eight-lane pool if it was built at this alternative site.
When asked by group chairman Anthony Taylor whether any work had been done to look at alternative sites, Mr Ward responded: "No, because that was not in my instructions."
Whether the task and finish will suggest this alternative as a serious proposal remains to be seen, as it will not make its recommendations to full council until at least the end of next month.
Chairman Anthony Taylor said: "If we need more time, we will have more time."
paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514694
Comments
by Thatslife
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:08PM
“So the council is thinking outside the box so why don't the public. People don't like change. If the leisure centre is for "our children" then I'm sure "our children" wouldn't mind which side of Port Talbot its built as long it has an eight lane pool and even better, not far from school. We have a beautiful beach and Port Talbot is a great town but the old Lido was an eyesore.”
by Stork
Thursday, September 27 2012, 2:27PM
“A new Afan Lido on the seafront, was supposed to cost £13.6 million. The proposed new Afan Lido next to, or in, the new school will cost how much ? More, or less than £13.6 million ?
The original figure of £13.6 million was far too high, was this just a Council feint ?
Did the Council always have the "school plan" up their sleeves all the time ? Hoping to throw supporters off the idea of re-building on the seafront, so that they would be grateful for a pool to be built anywhere ?
Councils have a habit of not being "open", and often, Councillors often follow suit. Who can you trust these days ?”
by MOOSEANDGOOSE
Thursday, September 27 2012, 1:25PM
“I think its a good thing to see someone in the Local Authority thinking outside the box. Personally I think this is a good idea, they have redeveloped Carmarthen Leisure Center which now has an 8 lane pool next door to a brand new super school. There are tennis courts, football pitch and an athletics track all on the one site and the place is always busy. In the day, 5 of the 8 lanes are set aside for school kids with the public having the other 3. Why doesn't Port Talbot do the same?
They could build a network of safe routes to the school/ leisure center including cycle paths which could link in with other trails much the same as the Millennium Cycle path in Llanelli which is always busy. Whatever they decide upon, the 1 thing they should make sure about is that the pool has 8 lanes. I am sure that a quality facility with good transport links will be well supported.
The Apollo cinema is much better than anything in Swansea as has been said, access is good and parking inst an issue, but the place never seems busy and I cant see it staying open for much longer.”
by Neathboy234
Thursday, September 27 2012, 1:22PM
“Stork I'm a very behaved person, it was only on the rugby pitch that i became Mr Hide.”
by Stork
Thursday, September 27 2012, 12:22PM
“The last post confirms why Swansea has such a bad reputation on most Friday and Saturday nights.”
by Neathboy234
Thursday, September 27 2012, 10:36AM
“hacker_jack I move to Swansea often on a Friday and Saturday night, and have been doing so for 30 years.”
by hacker_jack
Thursday, September 27 2012, 10:31AM
“"Not sure about the "mass of people" bit. Last two occasions I visited the cinema there was less than ten people watching the film!
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"Critical mass", not simply mass.
The Cinema + Beach + Leisure Centre would mean there are potentially several hundred people in the area on an average day for the majority of the day (dependent on weather, time of year, day of week etc.). Enough to potentially support other businesses. Separately this is not the case.
Phil - There are numerous office spaces laying empty in Port Talbot, both in and around the town centre and at Baglan Energy Park, both of which are far better locations for such facilities than the seafront.
The reason people from port talbot move to swansea is not for work, they can do that happily from PT, but for facilities, entertainment and a nicer environment.”
by Philosoraptor
Thursday, September 27 2012, 9:52AM
“I question the mentality of the people in that area when they would rather a swimming pool over office space for companies that it sorely needs, or else, Swansea will just continue to sap the life out of the place by pulling it's young residents away to work in a bigger and more successful business hub.”
by Neathboy234
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:41PM
“Dan01 your right the area around the cinema makes a sad sight. To the right a bowling ally that never opened, and to the left a fast food outlet, and a Chinese both ready to fall down. And of course further down a flat bit of land where once people went swimming. To be honest i can't see the Apollo lasting much longer, last film i went to see there was me, my son, and 2 others. Mind U i rather go there that Swansea as it's steeper and u get a better view”
by Neathboy234
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 5:39PM
“Dan01 your right the area around the cinema makes a sad sight. To the right a bowling ally that never opened, and to the left a fast food outlet, and a Chinese both ready to fall down. And of course further down a flat bit of land where once people went swimming. To be honest i can't see the Apollo lasting much longer, last film i went to see there was me, my son, and 2 others. Mind U i rather go there that Swansea as it's steeper and u get a better view”