Petition for a Leisure Centre, Swimming Pool and Gym in Wixams

Wixams was originally conceived as a self-sufficient and sustainable new community — a place where residents could live, work, learn, shop and access key services and facilities without needing to travel elsewhere for everyday needs.

That principle remains as important today as it was when the community was first planned.

However, despite Wixams growing into one of Bedfordshire’s largest new communities, the current Town Centre plans do not include a leisure centre, swimming pool or dedicated gym.

Residents have consistently identified these facilities as a priority. In community surveys, a leisure centre with swimming pool and gym was one of the most requested facilities for Wixams.

The absence of these facilities means residents must travel outside the town for activities that should be available within their own community.

The nearest facilities are:

🏊 Kempston Pool & Fitness Centre – approximately 3.5 miles away

🏊 John Bunyan Sports & Fitness Centre – approximately 4 miles away

🏊 Flitwick Leisure Centre – approximately 11 miles away

For many residents, these journeys require a car. Children, teenagers, older residents and those without access to private transport are particularly disadvantaged.

This situation is also inconsistent with the original vision of Wixams as a sustainable community. Encouraging residents to make regular car journeys for swimming lessons, fitness activities and recreational sport is neither environmentally sustainable nor aligned with the principles upon which Wixams was founded.

The impact is already being felt in local schools.

Because Wixams has no swimming pool, schools must transport pupils by coach to facilities outside the town for swimming lessons. This creates additional costs, additional travel and lost learning time, while increasing traffic and carbon emissions.

As Wixams continues to grow, these challenges will only become greater.

The wider area around Wixams is expected to accommodate thousands of additional homes, creating a community of well over 20,000 people. Communities of this scale require more than housing. They require the infrastructure that supports healthy and active lives.

We recognise that the current Town Centre plans are now progressing through the planning process and support their delivery.

However, we believe planning for the future of Wixams must not stop there.

The opportunity to provide leisure facilities in the future depends on safeguarding sufficient land today. Once land around the Town Centre is allocated for housing, the opportunity to deliver a leisure centre and swimming pool may be lost permanently.

This petition calls on Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council to ensure that the long-term leisure needs of Wixams are properly planned for.

Because a truly sustainable community should not require thousands of residents — including school children — to leave their town to access basic leisure facilities.