Clackmannanshire Council Online

Exciting New Pool and Wellbeing Hub Starts to Take Shape

A new swimming pool and wellbeing hub is starting to take shape.  Workshops and further public engagement to inform the design of the unique and inclusive new facility in Clackmannanshire got underway during August.  

The workshop discussions are being shaped by feedback received during recent consultation and engagement.

The Council has committed to invest £16.855m to create a state-of-the-art Wellbeing Hub, including a swimming pool. The development is being informed by the views of the community and stakeholder groups.

Last month council staff were out and about across the county,  gathering views from the public via a quick, five question survey.

This face to face consultation was well received, and along with responses to the earlier online survey in May, almost 3,000 responses have been recorded. The views gathered included:

• There is a need for a swimming pool for lessons and recreation
• The facilities need to be suitable for all ages and abilities
• Outdoor space is important for everyone
• It’s important to be active and leisure activities are a chance to spend time with family and friends
• The new hub needs to be affordable and local

The Wellbeing Hub is a top priority project in the Council’s Be the Future transformation programme, and councillors heard about the forthcoming workshops at today’s Council meeting. In addition, engagement is continuing with key stakeholder, interest and sports groups, as well as with the NHS and third sector.  Further engagement is planned to ensure that the public are kept up to date and can continue to feed in to the development.  

Education Spokesperson Councillor Graham Lindsay said: “We have a great opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the people of Clackmannanshire and to deliver a facility that we really can be proud of.

“We have allocated a £16.855m investment for the creation of a state-of-the-art Wellbeing Hub and I am delighted that we have engaged with so many people already, helping to shape what that future provision looks like. That engagement will continue throughout the process.”

The workshops will start to define the Strategic Needs, Feasibility Options and prepare the brief for the design of the new Wellbeing Hub. The NHS and SportScotland are also crucial partners in providing input and advice to this process.

Over the summer, the Council arranged swimming sessions for Clackmannanshire residents at the swimming pool at Dollar Academy.  As COVID restrictions ease further swimming time is actively being extended, as well as a programme of outdoor and leisure activity for the winter months.   Proposals for further interim swimming arrangements will be presented to Council in October.