Council plan for multi-million pound sports centre

Jul 8 2009 By Barry Gibson

"It is outdated, has poor disabled access and many people are put off by the changing rooms. There is also a high risk of pool tank failure. We would need tens of millions to repair the pool.

"The Southgate centre would also need to close down while refurbishing took place, leaving Huddersfield without a sports centre."

If planning permission is granted, work on the sports centre would begin late next year, and would be complete within two years.

The new Tesco on Southgate could open in 2014, with the Viaduct Street site redeveloped by 2016.

However, the huge regeneration plan is opposed by Town First, a coalition of traders and residents.

Spokesman Tony Coletta told yesterday’s Cabinet meeting: "We welcome the fact that Huddersfield will get a new sports centre but we think the cost is too high.

"Before you go ahead with this, I’d like you to consider the cost of Tesco to the town centre’s economy.

"We believe a new Tesco on Southgate will damage businesses in the town centre. We don’t buy into the idea that Joe Public will do his shopping in a hypermarket, then cross a six-lane highway and go up the hill to do more shopping in the town centre."

Mr Coletta, who owns Occasions on Market Avenue, added: "We’re not anti-Tesco, we would welcome them redeveloping their existing store on Viaduct Street."