KKP reviewed the Authority’s leisure facilities producing a detailed Borough investment strategy.
Much of Wirral Council’s mixed portfolio of sports facilities and swimming pools opened in the 1960s and 70s. This ageing stock coupled with limited interim investment has resulted in a real financial challenge for the Council and a very high annual operational subsidy requirement.
We identified a range of replacement and refurbishment options specifying where and how other council departments can co-locate services alongside or within leisure facilities to provide a more cohesive range of provision to cater for local communities.
Strategy implementation will see the Council replace four leisure centres and refurbish three. While keen to identify opportunity to rationalise facilities and develop fewer, larger venues, the nature of the area, natural and man-made barriers and the health and wellbeing challenges within specific communities mean that the Council still needs to retain key localised services to address health and social inequalities.
The ambitious strategy sets out an action plan for c. £117m of investment over a 10-year timeline – some linked to town centre regeneration and major housing growth. Although the capital investment is significant it will deliver considerable revenue savings which will contribute to repayment. It also provides a clear evidence base and potential rationale for future funding bids to government. When all facility improvements and replacements are delivered, the service should be in a position to offset virtually all of its present operational subsidy.