Do you want sport village - yes or no? (From Echo)

Do you want sport village - yes or no?

7:50am Wednesday 28th November 2007 in News By Jon Austin

DEVELOPERS are "queuing up" to build and run a multimillion-pound sports village in Basildon.

Council chiefs say the response to an advert across the European Union has been very encouraging and it now plans to draw up a shortlist.

Councillors have agreed a questionnaire interested firms will have to complete before they are considered.

Stephen Horgan, Tory councillor responsible for regeneration, said: "The sporting village will be the best sports and leisure facility in the east of England.

"I have been delighted by the number and quality of companies interested in working with the counci.

"The responses to the questionnaire will help us narrow down the most suitable companies to work with."

The successful firm which will build the £35million centre with an Olympic-sized swimming pool in Gloucester Park will be announced next October.

Under the plans the existing Gloucester Park pool and Markhams Chase would close.

Council leader Malcolm Buckley said there was no choice but to build the centre because of the current cost to taxpayers of keeping existing sports centres open.

Basildon Council believes the new complex in Gloucester Park will give residents the modern facilities they deserve at affordable prices.

The council also says it is the only way to keep public leisure facilities open in the district, because it simply cannot afford the massive repair costs needed to keep Gloucester Park pool open and improve other ageing sports centres.

Council chiefs have used the 2012 London Olympic Games as a springboard to get support and have been promised £5million from both the Govern-ment and Essex County Council.

They even hope the centre, which will create a new home for South Essex Gymnasts Club currently based in Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, could be used as a training camp for Olympic gymnasts.

Yet the authority is exhausting its coffers to fund the project.

The council has to raise another £12million by selling the existing pool, Markhams Chase Leisure Centre, part of Basildon Golf Course, the gymnastics club and some smaller sites.

This still leaves it £13million short, a cost it hopes will be made up by a private developer which it intends hiring to design, build and run the village.

But it has now emerged the contract with this firm may only be for 15 to 25 years, causing concerns about its long-term future.

Tory councillor for leisure Tony Hedley, who is driving the project, said: "This is the only way to deliver legacy sports facilities for the district."

Yet Dennis Swaysland, 73, from Beauchamps Drive, Wickford, who is fighting to keep open Markhams Chase Leisure Centre, said: "We need a full local referendum on the plans."

The arguments for

• Creates sporting mecca all in one place

• Brings only Olympic-sized swimming pool to Essex

• Could be used as Olympic training camp, which will give Basildon prestige and boost the local economy

• Only way to safeguard and bring millions of pounds needed to improve public leisure provision

• Create top-class facilities for residents

• Already has support and funding from Government and Essex County Council - £5million each

• Gives locals top class facilities they need to train to international level and new base for South Essex Gymnasts Club.

The arguments against

• Costing Basildon Council taxpayers £12million

• To raise this money council must sell off Gloucester Park pool, Markhams Chase Leisure Centre and part of Basildon Golf Course, Basildon Swimming Pool, South Essex Gymnastic Centre, Fryerns Junior Training Centre PLUS two junior football pitches and open grassland next door, plus an acre of open space at Rosebay Avenue, Billericay, the car park of Basildon Golf Course

• Will be run by private company which will take control from the council

• No guarantee costs will not escalate

• Complex may need major repairs after 15 years

• Sets precedent for building in Gloucester Park

• Could create traffic chaos in Cranes Farm Road.

The plans so far

These are the latest facilities currently expected to be included in the sports village:

Indoor:

• Olympic-sized 50-metre swimming pool

• Leisure and learning pools

• Eight-court sports hall

• Gymnasium

• Fitness suites

• Creche

• Cafe

• Meeting rooms

• Flexible space for exhibitions etc

• Indoor bowls

• Squash

• Climbing wall

• Soft play zone for children

Outdoor:

• Athletics stadium

• Netball

• Rugby

• Cricket

• Archery

• Astro turf pitches