GROUPS may still be unable to book sessions at Monmouth Leisure Centre, despite a temporary hall costing up to £400,000 being approved by Monmouthshire County Council last week.

Confusion surrounding the future of the leisure centre has meant some groups were unable to make new bookings from October, despite councillors approving the construction of a temporary sports hall to be used while the new hall is being built.

And while those with existing bookings have been assured their reservations will be secured, new bookings may be forced to use other leisure centres in the county while work is taking place.

Councillors met on Thursday 27th July, and agreed finances to proceed with the building of a new 25 metre pool in the space where the present gym is and a completely re-modelled leisure centre in Monmouth at a cost of more than £7 million.

Out of the four options open to them, they chose the model that meant the leisure centre and pool will open with the shortest proposed delay at the end of next year.

An option not to provide an alternative space to the existing sports hall for Monmouth Comprehensive School pupils to take public examinations while the leisure centre and pool are re-built was unanimously rejected.

One of the groups affected by the closure is Monmouth Netball Club. A spokesman told the Beacon: “We felt as a committee and club we have given them a lot of income and support over many years and thought the communication could be better. It’s a lack of communication really and it affects many clubs. We put in time voluntarily to sort our clubs so communication is key.”

Nick Butler, Leisure Centre Manager at MCC has been contacting those groups affected by the closure and reassured them that they will do their best to accommodate existing bookings.

Speaking to the Beacon yesterday (1st August) he said: “We cannot guarantee at this stage to accommodate them exactly as they are but we will do our utmost obviously.”

Mr Butler continued:?“The temporary structure will be slightly larger than the present facility and we are looking to see if we can keep open the squash courts while the work is going on which will give us another multi-purpose room which will be another space.”

He also confirmed the fitness suite will close but said that he has meetings all this week to see what alternatives he can offer.

The centre was unable to take new bookings after October before the decision on the chosen model was made at county level which is where he feels some misinformation may have come from.

“What we didn’t want to do was take on children’s birthday parties and then have to cancel them; the existing bookings are now the priority - some of them have been with us a long time - and I have spoken to most of those and I think they are reassured that they know from previous situations when we have floods, we will always do our best to make it as soon as possible.

“The next few days we will establish what we can fit in the temporary facility what we can keep open, if any, in the centre.”

He is hoping to be able to use other facilities around town or elsewhere such as Abergavenny, Chepstow and Caldicot, where gym membership will still be valid to take the pressure off and keep his customers happy.

With regard to new bookings, Mr Butler said that at this stage, if it’s a big event, he can accommodate them in Abergavenny, “but with others we will take the details as we still don’t know what date this is going to happen.”

Before the centre closes, a new temporary four court structure with changing and toilet facilities will be built.

It is hoped that the floor in the temporary structure will be marked for sports activities as the school will need it for their sessions.

“The centre would look at membership fees and if there is no facility available to compensate, then fees would be suspended. If we are able to offer something then I’m sure we can come to some arrangement and there is always the option they can travel to the other centres where the membership will still be valid.”

“We are working flat out now to do our best to accommodate everyone through these difficult but exciting times as well, we have to look to the end, it will be great for the town, really fantastic.”

Councillor Bob Greenland, deputy leader of the council with responsibility for the project, commented: "I am very pleased members have backed our preferred option to re-open the new pool and the leisure centre in the shortest possible time.  When we began this project it was simply to provide a new pool. 

“Now councillors have backed our plans to provide a 25 metre pool as promised. Designed to Amateur Swimming Association standards, it will be suitable for local galas with enhanced viewing areas and better facilities for youngsters to learn to swim. 

“But now we will be giving Monmouth much more than just the pool. There will be a re-modelled leisure centre with the latest facilities and equipment. Clearly, this will mean a longer re-build period than when we were just considering a new pool, but I am convinced the wait will be worth it.  “Taken together with the adjacent school, now under construction, this massive £50 million plus investment for Monmouth demonstrates this council’s commitment not only to the wellbeing of our current generation, but of those for years to come.”

The new centre will include more fitness and spinning suites, a spa, squash courts, a special sensory unit and an adventure play area with adjacent cafe. In addition, a new sports hall within the adjacent new school will be shared with the school.

•An application for a temporary sports hall with changing suites and toilet facilities., DC/2017/00808 has been submitted by Bradshaw Gass and Hope on behalf of Monmouthshire County Council. The 450 square metre building (30m by 15m) will be built on top of the existing tennis courts on the school site and will be available to the school and the community while the centre is undergoing refurbishment.

There will be separate cabins for girls and boys changing rooms and separate cabins for toilets adjacent to the main building.