New pool to be open by January 2017

A new multi-million pound swimming pool at Minsthorpe Community College is expected to open within 18 months.
Minsthorpe Community College has been chosen as the site for the new £5m swimming pool for the Hemsworth/South Elmsall area.
Ray Henshaw, Minsthorpe Principal, Coun Jean Askew (ward member) and Coun Les Shaw (cabinet member)Minsthorpe Community College has been chosen as the site for the new £5m swimming pool for the Hemsworth/South Elmsall area.
Ray Henshaw, Minsthorpe Principal, Coun Jean Askew (ward member) and Coun Les Shaw (cabinet member)
Minsthorpe Community College has been chosen as the site for the new £5m swimming pool for the Hemsworth/South Elmsall area. Ray Henshaw, Minsthorpe Principal, Coun Jean Askew (ward member) and Coun Les Shaw (cabinet member)

Wakefield Council’s cabinet approved the school as its preferred location to build the £5m facility at a meeting last November.

The decision followed the closure of Minsthorpe Swimming Pool in 2013.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And a planning application is expected to be submitted in the next few weeks.

Jon Trickett, Hemsworth MP, said: “There has been a bit of anxiety about the lack of progress on the new pool.

“I met Wakefield Council leader Peter Box last month and he assured me that the plans are proceeding rapidly.

“These kind of things always take a long time but Peter assured me that progress is being made.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A planning application for the new development is expected to be submitted in the new few weeks and, subject to it being granted, the council will then put the work out to tender.

Mr Trickett said: “I think we would all have liked to have seen some action by now but schemes like this always take longer than expected.

“It’s incredibly frustrating for people having to travel long distances and we really need a local pool. From meeting Peter I now have the reassurance that work is being done for us to get the new pool.”

Coun Box confirmed a planning application for the pool will be submitted shortly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I can confirm that we are working very hard with the college to make sure there are new, first-class swimming facilities for that area.

“We have given a commitment to people that this pool will be built and we are working towards opening in at the beginning of January 2017.

“We are still committed to this scheme.”

Homes plan for former site moves nearer after demolition go ahead

- Dozens of new homes could be built on the former Minsthorpe Pool site as part of a plan to regenerate the south east.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

- A planning application was submitted to demolish the Ash Grove building last month.

- After the demolition work, Wakefield Council hope to draw up a scheme to build specially-adapted bungalows for the elderly on the site, which will then be put out to tender.

- Coun Denise Jeffery, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are looking at regenerating the whole area in the south east and this is like the first bit of that plan.”

- The pool site has been subject to arson attacks and vandalism since it was closed down by the council.

-Demolition work on the site will begin on August 24 and take 15 weeks to complete.