Save Clifton Hill Sports Centre

Sport England guidance for 8 lane pool plus learner pool, 5 court hall, 150 station health and fitnessgym plus 3 studios is £17.6 m not £51.8m the current budget for St Sidwells Point?? https://www.sportengland.org/media/13346/facility-costs-q2-18.pdf …

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/clifton-hill-exeter-closed-campaign-2045659

https://www.facebook.com/notes/exeter-city-council-latest-news/update-on-plans-for-clifton-hill-sports-centre-site/550056988788591/

https://www.facebook.com/ExeterCityCouncil/videos/10160482782960634/?type=3&comment_id=10160482227825634&notif_id=1528872829638172&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/clifton-hill-could-another-50-1651618

The Executive meeting is Tuesday at 5.30 which is effectively the Cabinet at the civic centre and only features one opposition councillor but they appear to be so worried they’ve called an extraordinary meeting of the full council – all 39 members - for Wednesday at the Guildhall to rubber stamp the Executive decision.

In terms of tactics, better to get some media attention on the Tuesday before all city councillors are called on to vote on Wednesday.

A page dedicated to a vote of No confidence in the Council!

https://www.facebook.com/ECCVONC/?hc_ref=ARSTfIto0KzXC699rrHa3avbylag9qS5K0qod1g0vAKjykgk6G2HOfnPE-FjKDPA0RE

So that's great spend £250k to shut not £375k to fix it - genius!

This proposal requires additional funding of £150,000 for the demolition of Clifton Hill
and other unbudgeted revenue costs, in addition to a further sum for a compensation
payment and a loss of budgeted revenue income and VAT in the region of £100,000

A survey of the backlog maintenance costs of the leisure facilities has been completed
as part of future financial planning and this identified around £500,000 of routine
landlord and tenant works due for the Clifton Hill Sports Centre, this included some
repairs to the roof which had begun to leak.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/future-closed-exeter-sports-centre-1641114

Obviously the more serious the impact of a decision on affected individuals, the more
important it is that the right decision is reached and that those affected feel that their
concerns have been considered by the decision-maker. There is a risk that someone
will challenge the Council’s decision to close Clifton Hill Sports Centre. Any such
challenge would be by way of Judicial Review. The remedy if successful could be:
a. A decision quashing the council’s decision to close Clifton Hill Sports Centre
pending a consultation process;
b. An injunction preventing the demolition and subsequent sale of the site.

This proposal requires additional funding of £150,000 for the demolition of Clifton Hill
and other unbudgeted revenue costs, in addition to a further sum for a compensation
payment and a loss of budgeted revenue income and VAT in the region of £100,000.

http://committees.exeter.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5307

what nonsense £700k !!!!

'The cost of repairing the building, which now includes a full replacement of the roof is
estimated to be in the region of £700,000. A replacement and repair could take up to a
year to complete which would further impact on overall profitability of the leisure
contract and will not significantly extend the lifespan of the building and many of its
facilities will be replaced by the St Sidwell’s Point Swimming Pool and Leisure complex
scheduled for opening in December 2020.
3.5 Therefore officers are recommending permanent closure of Clifton Hill Sports Centre
and the sale of the site for development to generate a capital receipt to offset
compensation costs and provide investment for other Council priorities including the
development and improvement of other leisure sites. It is further recommended that
the Council seeks to restrict development of the site to exclude purpose built student
accommodation.'

Nothing smells quite right about this and I’m going to poke about until I find out where the odour is coming from. The parameters of use are being spun, maintenance neglected to the point that insurers wouldn’t pay out. Repair costs grossly inflated ( sources I can’t really disclose have given me very different figures!) & survey reports being keep confidential so far.

https://twitter.com/cliftonhillsave

Built in 1983, Clifton Hill is an early work of Sir Nicholas Grimshaw - best known for designing the Eden Project, Thermae Bath Spa and Waterloo International railway station.

https://grimshaw.global/

Exactly what damage has happened to cause the leisure centre to permanently close?

Why did Wednesday's announcement come when it did? The update came just days after the city council elections and on the eve of IKEA opening hmmmm.

Is the likely closure of Clifton Hill due to the council's plans to build a new leisure centre?

If Clifton Hill does close then it's not yet clear what will be done with the site.

It's prime land in Exeter city centre that developers are likely to be interested in.

Will the leisure centre be demolished and will the land remain in public possession?

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/six-questions-clifton-hill-sports-1557837

some very relevant questions!

Figures from the city council show that in 2012/13, 59,188 people used the sports centre.

But in 2015/16 that number had shot up to 119,030

https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-features/news/2017/december/04/transforming-the-delivery-of-physical-activity-locally/

Sport England
SportPark
3 Oakwood Drive
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3QF

Tel: 0345 8508 508
Email: funding@sportengland.org

Active Devon - they say 'Have you got a question? We’d love to hear from you, so why not send us a message and we’ll be back in touch
ASAP.'

CALL US
01392 925150

EMAIL US
hello@activedevon.org
EXETER

The Loft, Haven Banks OEC,
Haven Road,
Exeter,
EX2 8DP
http://activedevon.org/contact-us/

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-cranbrook-share-100million-make-877159

The city does want to spend circa £150,000 here despite - https://www.devonnewscentre.info/cranbrook-celebrates-multi-million-of-sport-england-funding/

We are not politcal - we just want our Sports Centre back but - https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/council-slammed-disgusting-devastating-decision-1553805

Plans a foot for a march on the Civic Centre - watch this space!

I'm meeting the Council on Tuesday I hope - Make sure we are over the 1000+ by then!!
https://www.facebook.com/savecliftonhillsportscentre/

Exeter City Council want to close Clifton Hill Sports Centre siting costs of repairs to the roof they neglected and the consequent damage! At worst probably £175,000 to fix whereas they want to spend £30-40m on a new pool & gym without a sports hall! Stupidity or corruption? Site for more student flats no doubt!

Radio Exe interview coming up!

The report is still being written, but the early indications are that councillors are likely to be asked to support the permanent closure of Clifton Hill, due to the extent of the damage and the likely cost of repair. Full details of the reasons behind the recommendation will be outlined in the report

Let Sport England know what you think too - tweet!! https://twitter.com/Sport_England

https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/fears-clifton-hill-sports-centre-1525838

Elections are 'done & dusted' - time to email or write to your councillor -

https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/your-city-councillors/

http://www.turner-locker.co.uk/save-clifton-hill-sports-centre/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b0w9yc/spotlight-evening-news-02052018
go to about 12 mins in for BBC spotlight feature!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213441683051258&set=pcb.2204354086460327&type=3&theater&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213441682331240&set=pcb.2204354086460327&type=3&theater&ifg=1
& the Front page of the Express & Echo

We made Spotlight on BBC - go to 12 mins in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b0w9yc/spotlight-evening-news-02052018

Dear Cllr Bialyk

I’m starting to think that any news on this is waiting for the elections to pass. Perhaps I’m cynical a read Private Eye too much.

Minutes of your meetings seem to confirm what I knew that CHSC was popular and very well attended. Its closure would be a loss to the city and shaming for its Council – it’s one of very few sports halls available, it hardly accords with the City’s ‘ambition of making Exeter the most active city in the country, delivering on the commitment to encourage 10,000 more people to become active for life’ does it?

Email to Exeter's MP
ben4exeter@gmail.com
Dear Ben

heard nothing more from you or your office. I have always regarded Clifton Hill as an asset to the City and understand its importance within the community. The facility has attained excellent user numbers over the years and it’s closure would not be in the best interests of the City. Silence from the council seems to suggest that they are simply waiting until the elections are out of the way before given any bad news – if that proves to be the case it’s shameful..

Starting to suspect the Council are delaying any bad news of CHSC until after the elections...

Minutes from meeting rear CHSC last April with ECC;
Councillor Brimble commented on the future plans for Clifton Hill LC once the new facilities at St Sidwells Point were open, as they would also be able to offer fitness facilities as well as a pool. Jeremy Wright responded stating that Clifton Hill’s biggest asset was the sports hall which would continue to offer a range of sports including five a side and walking football, netball, basketball as well as badminton and exercise classes. He agreed that it would be an interesting time when St Sidwell’s Point opened, and acknowledged that it may present some challenges. Steve Lyon agreed that any new venue resulted in a drift of membership, but Clifton Hill was fairly well placed within an established community including local residents and students.

We made 200+ in 1st 24hrs ....

See what ECC are wanting to spend on St Sidwell Point -
https://exeter.gov.uk/people-and-communities/major-projects/st-sidwells-point/finance/

171 signatures inside 24hrs - lets see if we can make 200 in the 1st day!

Tonight BBC will be at St James School Sports Hall on Summer Lane to cover the issue where our circuits class has relocated 'under it's own steam' for the time being- Please try to be there to show support - 6.00pm Summer Ln, Exeter EX4 8NN