Stafford Borough Council has unveiled a new plan for Westbridge Park, which includes new play facilities (as we revealed last week) but also a new leisure centre and an M&S Simply Foods store.
The borough council says it has listened to local people’s concerns from last year’s consultation on their original plans, which included a 30,000 sq ft food store to help pay for improved leisure facilities at the park. Its new plan features an 11,000 sq ft M&S Simply Foods store which would be located at the site of the current tennis courts.
The £6 million scheme would see a new leisure centre with six-lane swimming pool along with children’s play area and youth facilities on the park. The scheme could also include a new sports hall and 3g artificial soccer pitch at Alleyne’s Academy, as well as improved football pitches at Walton Common.
The plans to serve the north of the borough have been drawn up following a consultation last year which showed residents wanted improved facilities but were worried about losing green space in Westbridge Park to a supermarket. A number of national food chains had shown interest in moving to the site.
Now Stafford Borough Council says the new proposals will mean the undeveloped green area of Westbridge Park will be protected, with a smaller M&S Simply Foods store being located on an already developed area to help pay for the exciting leisure plans.
The local authority will also offer the green space in the park to a Trust or the Town Council – protecting the site for major events such as the Food and Drink, and Stone festivals.
The £4.5 million leisure centre will boast a six-lane swimming pool, top of the range gym equipment, as well as fitness rooms and improved changing accommodation. The borough council has been in talks with Alleyne’s Academy about the pool at Alleyne’s Sports Centre being converted to an indoor hall which can be used by the public for sporting activities in the evenings and weekends – and for pupils during the day.
The plans will be funded by the borough council, including money from the M&S development. All money from the sale of the council-owned land will be pumped into the leisure offer for Stone and, along with savings made by running the centre and swimming pool from Westbridge Park, will mean cash for the scheme does not have to be raised through local tax payers.
The details of the project are revealed in a report that will go before the council’s cabinet next week (Thursday 11th December). There will also be an opportunity for residents and businesses to give their views as part of the planning process.
Councillor Mike Heenan, leader of Stafford Borough Council, said the proposals would be the biggest investment the council had made from its own resources for decades. He said: “We listened to the feedback from local people and this helped make our agenda very clear – to deliver the best leisure facilities for Stone, without losing valuable green space on Westbridge Park, and not burdening local tax payers. And with this scheme we can achieve it.
“Youngsters will have a play park that rivals the success we have had at Wildwood Park and Victoria Park in Stafford. Residents will have a new leisure centre with a swimming pool that they will have greater access to every day – and not out of action for running repairs as it has been on a number of occasions previously. Football pitches could be improved at Walton Common with the potential for a new artificial 3g pitch at Alleyne’s.”
He continued: “To do this we required money from the new food store and this is where we have made sure we took into account what we heard from local people. The M&S food offering is smaller and will be built away from the green area of the park. It is also a store which we think will complement the very successful Food and Drink Festival and High Street, and bring people to Stone providing a boost to the local economy.
“These plans mean we won’t be raising funds through increased taxes on Stone residents, and we will also offer to gift the green area of the park to a Trust or the town council.”
The borough council has also met with the local Guide group to discuss a new building and location within the park.
As mentioned above, Stafford Borough Council’s Cabinet will be discussing the new scheme at their meeting on 11th December.
You can see all of our coverage of the Westbridge Park issue from the last couple of years HERE.
6 comments
Peter Calvert
It’s important that the new pool is built and opened before Alleyne’s pool closes
Jon Banks
This is indeed fantastic news, and the sooner the development is completed, the better as far as I am concerned. I regularly use the Alleyne’s swimming centre and pool, and it is really looking very tied and old now. And also a new retail store – what a great bonus !
Cannot wait !
Rich Hearn
Awesome! Great news!
Jon Farnsworth
A copy of an email after I raised my concerns..
No mention of public services such as schools or surgeries etc that are already under pressure before the 1000 or so new homes being built currently in Stone..
Thank you for participating in last year’s public consultation regarding new leisure facilities in Westbridge Park, Stone. The Borough Council promised to listen and include feedback given when drawing up future proposals.
Stafford Borough Council has spent time following the consultation analysing the responses and working on solutions that can deliver new facilities for Stone while also keeping Westbridge Park green.
On Thursday 11th December, a report will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet for the opportunity to deliver a new leisure centre alongside children and young people’s play facilities on the park but ensuring that all of the green part of Westbridge Park is retained.
The new proposals have taken on board what you said as follows:
What you said
What we propose
Almost 1,000 respondents wanted event space
This will be retained – none of the green space will be touched.
Did not like the idea of a 30,000 sq ft “supermarket” on green space to help pay for the improved facilities.
An 11,000 sq ft M&S Simply Food store which would be on already developed ground and not on any green space. All money from this development will go towards leisure in Stone.
Almost 900 respondents wanted an improved play area
New children’s and teenagers’ play equipment will be provided (comparable with Victoria / Wildwood Parks in Stafford – subject to consultation within the community).
Residents wanted leisure facilities, including a pool, but many did not want this to include loss of green space
The leisure facilities and pool can now be provided in the revised scheme with no loss of green space.
Would like a quality retail offer to benefit rather than detract from the High Street.
An M&S Simply Food Store. The brand has a reputation for helping the High Street. The M&S name was also mentioned as a positive by many of the consultees.
Any new food store should go as close to the High Street as possible. This will also deliver funds towards the leisure facilities – which may not be the case if in an alternative location was used elsewhere in town.
Protect the view from the Moorings
Nothing would go ahead without the residents being consulted as part of the proper planning process.
Ensure school children still have access to a pool
There would be a timetable for exclusive school use – similar to what is already in place for many schools using Stafford Leisure Centre.
The proposals will bring M&S to the town, as close to the High Street as possible, as well as enabling the delivery of quality children and young people’s play provision, and a new leisure centre with a six-lane pool. The scheme could also include a new sports hall and an improved 3g artificial soccer pitch at Alleyne’s Academy as well as improved football pitches at Walton Common.
Essentially, it ensures that all of the green space remains green, protecting the site for residents and events.
The report on the proposals will be discussed by Cabinet next week. This is available to view on http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk under Stone Leisure Strategy. Alternatively you can click to view the report via this link: https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/document/id/A675CE2B-FD23-4AF1-9B92-A8B7550715EE
Kind regards,
Victoria