Flumes at White Oak leisure centre in Swanley to stay closed as council reduces spending
11:00, 11 November 2016
Flumes at a swimming pool will stay closed while a management firm is locked in a stalemate with the district council over the leisure centre’s future.
Sencio Community Leisure, which runs the White Oak leisure centre in Swanley, wants to reopen the shark shocker, whale whirler and dolphin glider rides but Sevenoaks council says it will not spend on non-essential items.
That is because it intends to replace the leisure centre with a new facility as part of a 20-year masterplan.
As well as a gym and numerous classes it has a 33-metre pool with diving area, a teaching pool, and the flumes, which have been closed four months.
Jane Parish, chief executive of Sencio, said: “We are working hard with the landlord of the centre, Sevenoaks District Council, to try and find a way of getting the flumes – which are a much loved and very popular part of White Oak leisure centre – back into public use.”
But council leader Cllr Peter Fleming (Con) said the building was nearing the end of its life.
As part of the 20-year plan it will not be refurbished, a replacement will be built instead.
In the meantime, he said: “We are committed to keeping the leisure centre open but are not going to spend money on items not vital for the running of it.”
He said it was impossible to estimate how long the people of Swanley may have to wait for a new centre.
Cllr Fleming did not accept the council was letting the centre fall into disrepair.
He added: “New filters have been put in and work done to the internal roof to make it safe. We’ve been looking to find the most sensible site for a new leisure centre.
“That doesn’t mean everything waits until year 20.”
Last year the council commissioned a report for a replacement leisure centre on 12 different sites, including the existing one.
Swanley Recreation Ground was considered the best-suited but Cllr Laurence Ball (Con) for the Swanley White Oak ward said it was a very unpopular choice.
The deadline to complete the consultation survey was last week and results are expected early next year.
