Back from holiday and the leisure review is in full swing

Posted By: Jason Michael Gledhill
Date Posted: 11/08/2009

I returned from 2 weeks holiday on Sunday and following a few hours of reviewing my Council emails I can see the leisure review is continuing to move forward.

The deadline for a report to Council is in December 2009 and we are on target to hit that goal.

I'm really pleased with the public engagement and consultation that is happening. This was a major fault in previous leisure reviews (3 in the last 9 years) and the January leisure report which was so hotly debated. 

There are currently working groups progressing in relation to a new pool, the future of Bacup Leisure Hall and now the Ski slope. All the working groups have participation from residents, user groups and Council officers and members.

In addition a questionnaire has just been sent directly to over 700 residents, although all residents can access it asking for input into the future of leisure and culture in Rossendale.

KKP Consultants have now been appointed and have started work on the consultancy aspects of the review. Their remit is very wide ranging and should bring forward a strategy for leisure and culture based upon short, medium and long term goals.

These goals will have to fit into a susutainable and realistic financial plan that is affordable to local residents and backed up by accessing as many grants as possible.

Finally another key part of the ongoing review is to look at opportunities for private sector investment into Ski Rossendale. This is moving forward and I should have more details by the end of September.

I'm sure the outcome of the review will not suit 100% of residents but the challenge is to have an acheiveable and sustainable plan, arguably for the first time in many years. One that meets the needs of the vast majority of residents. A plan that if it doesn't exactly suit a minority of people they can at least understand how the plan has been arrived at and had the opportunity to have their say.