A council has said it is “open to any suggestion to restore swimming” to a town — and reiterated its promises to involve the community in decisions.
The main pool at Southwell Leisure Centre was closed in October 2023, after a leak was discovered. Newark and Sherwood District Council has since promises a £5.5 million investment in a new pool and learner pool — subject to the Southwell Leisure Centre Trust handing over land for it to be built on.
At a full council meeting of Southwell Town Council, held yesterday (April 17), Martin Stott provided feedback on talks held the day before (April 16) between the town council, Southwell Leisure Centre Trustees and Newark and Sherwood District Council.
The meeting was hosted by the town council, after members voted in March to call the meeting to discuss possible ways forward.
Mr Stott outlined Southwell Town Council’s two objectives, which he said were to see whether repair and investment of £5.5 million is achievable and to achieve long term sustainability of the town’s leisure provision.
He said that in the two-hour meeting there were “frank and constructive exchanges”, “pertinent questions were asked” and that the sole objective was to see if Southwell Leisure Centre Trust and Newark and Sherwood District Council could reach an agreement to move forwards with plans.
“All parties agreed there is an urgent need to deliver an operational pool”, he added.
It was also clarified that no votes were taken — besides an agreement to reconvene later in the month after reflecting on the meeting — and no detailed plans or specifics were seen or discussed.
Councillors also offered reassurances that the town council reminded committed to calling a public meeting as soon as it was asked to hand over land or was presented with formal plans — and further emphasised that the meeting would be held in a venue large enough to ensure everybody who wanted to attend could do so.
It was also announced that, in the meeting, Newark and Sherwood District Council agreed to look into providing some form of transport to help residents reach other nearby pools.
The report of the meeting was followed by an opportunity for members of the public to speak and to ask questions.
Among the issues raised, were the opportunity for the public to attend meetings related to the pool, management of the pool and the council’s current position with the trustees.
Trevor Bryan, part of Friends of Southwell Swimming Pool (FOSS), questioned why the public was not permitted to attend the tripartite meeting when Southwell Town Council’s constitution states that members of the public can attend all meetings.
He suggested it would allow people to “circumvent hearsay evidence” and form their own opinions of what was said in meetings rather than having a report of it.
The clerk clarified that the constitutional rule only applied to Southwell Town Council meetings, not others it was involved in.
In response to another question on the topic it was also confirmed that all three parties involved had agreed to hold the meeting in closed session.
A second question came from Briony Clarke regarding a planned public meeting and what would be discussed there.
She said: “It seems to me it is all this privacy and people not involving the public which is causing these issues.”
Acting chairman Malcolm Brock explained he couldn’t be certain what level of detail would be ready to be discussed, but that the town council would “give every opportunity for the community to be involved”.
Brendan Haigh, who was speaking on his own behalf but is part of the Southwell Civic Society and who has past experience as a councillor, said that while he understood why the meeting was held in private, doing so would allow rumours to start.
He added: “It is five months since the pool closed and it is still in discussion… promises can be made by local authorities but not kept. Things can get in the way or there can be other priorities or issues getting funding.
“It took more than 10 years for a new pool to be built [in Newark] and I feel the same could happen here.”
Bryony Clarke also questioned if the council had considered any other options for the management of the leisure centre, “as Newark and Sherwood District Council keep threatening to walk away”.
Mr Brock said the council hadn’t, and added: “The town council is open to any suggestions to restore swimming in the town.”
Allison Berwick, who is part of FOSS and Friends of Southwell Parks, added that FOSS is looking into other community-run leisure centres in Nottinghamshire and across the UK and seeking advice on how it could be implemented in Southwell.
Another member of public spoke of a phone call he had had with Newark and Sherwood District Council leader Paul Peacock, who he claimed was “really damning of the trustees”, and questioned the town council’s position.
He added that he was “frustrated” by not being able to swim in Southwell.
Mr Brock said: “Currently we are actively working with the trustees, as are Newark and Sherwood District Council.
“If we are to resolve the issues we have to work together — which was the point of the meeting.
“Did we resolve everything? No. Did we move forward? Yes.”
One of the final questions of the evening was from Jo Harbord, of FOSS, who asked for confirmation that Southwell Town Council had not been asked to hand over land — which Mr Brock confirmed.
She added that FOSS was the “only stakeholder to ask for public opinions”, which it had done through a survey, engagement on Facebook and a stall on Southwell Market last weekend.
“The impact is phenomenal on the community who use the pool,” Jo Harbord said.
Mr Brock commended the group’s work and said: “Your message is coming across loud and clear.
“As a town council its important we take into account all opinions.”
He further stated that it was “unlikely” that any key decisions will be taken before the public meeting, but cannot confirm they won’t as it is not only up to the town council.
The public were thanked for attending the meeting and bringing their questions to the council.
Later in the meeting Peter Harris expressed disappointment he wasn’t called on during the pool debate, and added his concerns that Newark and Sherwood District Council weren’t making any compromises while the trustees seemed to be.
He said: “It’s not just one party that has to move all the way to the other.”
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