A new £8.5m replacement for Queen’s Park Sports Centre has been approved - despite concerns it may not be the “best deal for Chesterfield.”
The closure of the old centre will also mark the end of one of the few places to dive in Derbyshire - as the new centre will not have any provision for diving.
The centre, which will open in early 2015, will have a mix of modern facilities such as swimming pools, a fitness suite, dance studio and sports hall - but the three diving boards currently at Queen’s Park will not be replaced nor will the running track.
Cllr Keith Morgan said: “This should be a town leisure centre for everybody.
“I think with the Olympic legacy we have had there will be a lot of youngsters who will be wanting to dive.”
Cllr Morgan also raised concerns that alternative options had not been looked at and whether accessibility would be problem - as the facility will be shared with Chesterfield College.
He added: “Is this the best deal for Chesterfield?”
But members voted in favour of the plans which will see the new centre built on the site of the Queen’s Park annexe in Chesterfield – near the existing tennis courts and bowling green.
Cllr Amanda Serjeant said: “This is an excellent way of providing our borough with an appropriate Olympic legacy.
“The current building is clearly showing its age and is in need of major refurbishment – building the new centre on the site of the annexe will allow us to keep the current centre open until the new one is built.”
Chesterfield College will invest £2.5m in the building so that students can make use of the facilities during term time alongside regular customers.
Consultation events will take place with residents and user groups in the summer.
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