Have your say on plans for the new Dover Leisure Centre

The first round of consultation on a proposed new Leisure Centre to be built in Whitfield starts today (Monday, 4 July 2016) and will run for three weeks. A series of consultation events at Dover Leisure Centre and Whitfield Village Hall will culminate with the plans being on show at the Dover Community Regatta on 23 July. People can also view the plans and take a short questionnaire on Dover District Council's website.

The plans have been developed following a detailed review of leisure facilities across the district along with an assessment of potential sites. Dover District Council’s preferred location is a 2.5 hectare site in Whitfield where a bigger and better leisure centre can be built. The proposals include:
 

• County standard competition swimming pool with tiered seating for 250 people
• Learner pool with a moveable floor, and a clip 'n' climb wall
• Four court sports hall and two outdoor artificial (3G) pitches for five-a-side football
• 120 station health and fitness gym, spin studio and two squash courts
• Three multi-activity studios, and a sauna and steam room
• Cafe and flexible space for community use, event and function hire
• Free parking for a minimum of 250 vehicles

A series of drop-in sessions are being hosted for local people to see the plans, complete a questionnaire, and speak to the Project Team. A workshop is also being hosted for representatives from local sports clubs, along with representatives from town and parish councils. The drop-in sessions will be held at:
 

• Dover Leisure Centre, Townwall Street -  Thursday, 14 July (5pm - 8pm); Saturday, 16 July (9am - 12 noon); Tuesday, 19 July (10am - 1pm)
• Whitfield Village Hall, Manley Close - Thursday, 21 July (9am - 12 noon)
• Dover Community Regatta, Dover Seafront - Saturday, 23 July (10am - 6pm)

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Portfolio Holder for Property Management, said: "These are exciting plans for a bigger and better leisure centre to enhance facilities across the district, including what will be Kent’s only county standard competition swimming pool. We want to know what people think of the plans and how they can be refined before we finalise the plans in the autumn."

The consultation will close at midnight on 24 July. The results of the consultation will be presented to Dover District Council's Cabinet meeting on 5 September when a final decision on plans to invest in a new Dover Leisure Centre will be taken. A second round of consultation is planned for autumn 2016.