Denbighshire’s Cabinet is set to discuss short-term options in relation to the facilities formerly operated by Clwyd Leisure Ltd in Rhyl and Prestatyn.
The Council has been considering options following Clwyd Leisure Ltd’s decision to wind-up the company and to appoint an insolvency practitioner.
Extensive deliberations have taken place and the Council has now fully assessed the condition of the Sun Centre and the amount of investment needed to bring the facilities up to an acceptable standard to operate. There are numerous issues with the Sun Centre, with the building and its equipment in a poor condition, with significant repairs needed to allow it to open and operate safely.The building and its equipment are in a poor condition. There are significant repairs needed to allow it to open and operate safely.
Due to the significant repairs needed and the declining visitor numbers, the Council’s appraisal shows that the facilities will run at a significant operating loss if they re-opened.
The consideration with the Nova Centre was the cost of running the facility in the short term, in view of the long term plans for the site. The Nova Centre is in a reasonable condition, but in need of an overhaul. However, the issue with the Nova is the cost of running the facility. It has been operating at a loss due to the low levels of income. The Council believes that the Nova has more to offer but it will need significant redevelopment to allow more up-to-date facilities to be created that will attract people to use it and generate enough income.
The North Wales Bowls Centre is in a fairly good condition, repairs are relatively minimal and there is strong club and community support for the facility with good levels of use.
Therefore, the recommendations that will be considered by the Cabinet are:
Sun Centre, Rhyl
Not to re-open as a wet leisure facility.
Proactively explore potential for alternative use as dry leisure facility.
Nova Centre, Prestatyn
Not to re-open in advance of a proposed refurbishment, assuming the business case is approved.
Continue to progress the refurbishment business case with view to a decision in April/May.
North Wales Bowls Centre:
To re-open on slightly reduced opening hours, in response to seasonal demand
Explore establishing a good professional partnership with existing clubs.
Assume small operating loss £10k (to cover property investment costs), which will cover the investment in a new roof and bowling carpet.
The final decision on the short-term options will be taken by Cabinet at County Hall, Ruthin on Tuesday, March 25.
Rebecca Maxwell, Denbighshire’s Corporate Director: Economic and Community Ambition, said: “We have given serious consideration to all the options available to us before making the recommendations.
“The cost and risk of operating the facilities at the Sun Centre have been deciding factors in the recommendation not to re-open the attraction. We suspected the building and equipment would be in a poor condition, and this has been confirmed during our visits to the facilities and condition surveys carried out since the facilities were handed back to us.
“We believe the financial risks associated with re-opening the Sun Centre are too great, as a lot of investment would be needed for urgent or imminent works. The kind of investment in question would be beyond the Council’s means; it would not provide value for money and the Sun Centre is a building with a short lifespan.
“We also believe that it would not make economic sense to re-open the Nova in terms of the cost of running the facility in the short term when there are plans for complete refurbishment works in the longer term.
In February, Cabinet discussed the long term ambition for the development of leisure facilities along the coast and confirmed its aspiration for a replacement of the Sun Centre with a new Aquatic Centre. The Council has already started the process of seeking expressions of interest from the private sector for a joint venture.
In the case of the Nova, the preferred route is a full refurbishment using the Council’s leisure development framework partner, Alliance. A feasibility business case is currently being prepared. The aspiration is for this work to start in Autumn ready for new facilities opening next summer.
Jamie Groves, Denbighshire’s Head of Communications, Marketing and Leisure, said: “The Council is committed to investing in leisure provision that will have a very positive contribution to health and well being of residents and visitors, as well as the wider development of the local economy and the regeneration efforts.
“We have a strong and proven track record for providing a sustainable and high quality leisure offer across Denbighshire, our own leisure sites being a prime example. We have made recent investments in leisure centres across the county whilst continuing to improve the offer to customers, encouraging new customers to join up through exciting membership opportunities and reducing budgets significantly.
“This should offer people the confidence that we are doing the right thing, for the benefit of local residents, visitors and the local economy”.
Users of the facility are reminded of alternative facilities at Rhyl and Prestatyn Leisure Centres.
