‘It’s a done deal’

RESIDENTS angry at plans to build the new Huddersfield Sports Centre in Springwood feel it’s a ‘done deal’.

Members of the Springwood Tenants’ and Residents’ Association raised concerns about the development at a meeting yesterday.

Kirklees Council plans to close the current sports centre on Southgate and build a new one on the Springwood car park.

Tesco will then move on to the old sports centre site in a £26m deal.

But Springwood residents said they believe the project is a done deal.

Mandy Healey, who lives in Springwood with her children, said: “It is totally inappropriate; most people who live round here are retired.

“It seems the most ridiculous place to put it.

“The council is forgetting that this affects people. We will have to deal with this every day if it goes ahead.

“It sounds to me like there isn't an option. The option is the sports centre is going here and that is it.”

Hazel Spencer, a member of the association, said: “The council should not be going out of its way to accommodate Tesco. They should put their residents first.

“From everything I've read and heard there is nothing positive about it at all.”

Pensioner Christine Hasnik said: “If the council want to make a deal with Tesco they can, but not right in front of our homes.”

The £26m redevelopment was unveiled in October and, if approved, will be complete by 2011.

Tesco wants to move to the Southgate site, giving Kirklees a pot of money for the new centre.

It would have a 25-metre swimming pool, a teaching pool, two sports halls, a climbing wall, squash courts, a martial arts room, a 150-station fitness suite, dance studio, changing facilities, cafe, children’s area and a multi-purpose room.

The council would also redevelop the old Tesco site off Viaduct Street.

Newsome councillors Andrew Cooper and Graham Simpson advised residents to organise a petition against the proposal.

Clr Cooper said: “There are a number of opportunities to be able to influence this. We need residents to make their views known.

“The planning committee works separately from the rest of the council and will not necessarily approve a Kirklees scheme if the planning law does not allow for it and residents have valid concerns.”

Clr Simpson said: “There will be a lot of opposition to this. If this goes ahead it will mean the loss of 350 long-stay parking spaces. It will be extremely difficult for people working in the town centre to park.”

The council says the proposals are under consultation and two sites for the sports centre are being considered, with Springwood as the preferred location. The other site is on St Andrew’s Road.

The council says it is not feasible to redevelop the existing sports centre for current needs.