Community and Sports Centre plans changed
Friday 12th August 2011, 10:00AM BST.
Altered plans for the project will mean the Community and Sports Centre will be more in tune with the surrounding area.
Altered plans for the project will mean the Community and Sports Centre will be more in tune with the surrounding area.
REVISED plans have been submitted for the development of Alderney Community and Sports Centre at York Hill.
Trustee Richard Willmott said the new design fits in better with the surrounding area.
‘We believe it makes better use of the site and is less intrusive,’ said Richard, a former States member.
Alderney’s Building and Development Control Committee members will discuss the plans at their next meeting.
Directline Structures has been appointed to oversee the project, which the trustees hope will be completed in spring 2012.
The final cost of the facility will be about £2.2m. To date, just £300,000 has been raised, though it is hoped Guernsey’s States will support the project.
Trustees have also advertised for a manager to run the facility. The successful applicant will be expected to participate in final design and equipment discussions.
Richard said one person had already applied for the post, which is due to be advertised in the UK and across the Channel Islands.
The trust is currently planning to build a 25-metre swimming pool, sports hall, gym, dance studio and bowling alley.
The UK government has outlined the importance of working alongside the Channel Islands – including Alderney – to develop tidal energy.
A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said renewable power could secure Britain’s energy supply and create economic opportunities.
Local company Alderney Renewable Energy is working to develop island waters and sell the power generated to Britain and France. It is currently working on a local hydro-electricity project, which could halve islanders’ electricity bills by 2018.
‘Some of the best resources for generating tidal power lie in waters off the Channel Islands. I am aware that there is a project looking at developing tidal resources in Alderney and building an inter-connector to provide a route to the British and French markets,’ said the Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman.
‘The opportunities for exploring tidal power were also discussed at the 20th British Irish Council Summit, where a paper was agreed setting out an “all islands approach” to energy resources.’
He said the aim was to work together to better exploit the abundant energy resources in the British islands and Ireland, as well as improve the collective security of supply and resolve legal, regulatory and constitutional barriers.
‘Making more of the natural renewable resource available around our islands could benefit us all. It makes much more sense to trade clean, green, secure energy with our neighbours than import vast amounts of fossil fuels from far-flung parts of the world. As well as security of supply, this would create economic opportunities, sparking new projects and jobs which otherwise might not have happened.’
Thursday 23 February
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I wonder how you can advertise a Managers job, when the final building plans have not even been agreed yet? Let alone the huge lack in finances of around £1,900,000….. How about getting all the planning sorted first, the building started and the costs confirmed and budgeted for, then advertise for a Manager. And all this to be completed by Spring next year! I wonder what the outcome will be, i can’t wait to see the next move!!
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Emma – how sensible. but this is not a sensible project. It would be nice to have a leisure centre, but we cannot afford to build it, nor to operate it without a heavy subsidy, just like Beau Ssejour and most Public Leisure Centres in the UK. So it is mad to spend money advertising for a Manager at such an early stage.
But don’t be surprised to see one taken on and then be used an argument to continue with the build.
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No doubt will be called the Richard Willmott Sports Centre – jokes aside, do we really need it, will it generate income or interest in Alderney – what are the ongoing costs and who will pay for them. Can you tell me in all honesty that spending £2.2 million on a sports centre is a good idea when we have our only airline cutting services to Southamptom, vacant shops in Victoria St, poorly maintained tourist walks, dirt roads that need to be graded, I think that building Covered Gas BBQ’s areas near our stunning beaches, family oriented picnic areas with tables and seating etc would be a better use of the money
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@ Mark – your argument is a little like a hotel deciding not to refurbish it’s jaded facilities because fewer guest are coming to stay? You might enjoy a BBQ on a stormy December evening but I’d rather go for a swim in a warm indoor pool.
So much negativity about something that should be positive for the island and islanders. Not uncommon though.
I’ve put my hand in my pocket and offered some funding for this project and I urge others in a fortunate position to do the same.
We need a place for the youngsters to fill their time, us in middle age to get rid of the spare tyre and our elderly population can really benefit from gentle exercise too, especially in a pool.
We spent £2 million on a nursing home so now let’s spend some money giving us something healthy to do to keep us out of it for as long as possible.
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@ all the negative people
I think its a good idea. I cant wait for this to be up and running. Finally somewhere you can go and have a swim or work out with friends. Its about time this got sorted. It will help with tourists, i can’t see what they do on a rainy day other than sit at the hotel or in their tent. at least this would be something to do.
and i compeletly agree with Hello. we need this, we have just spent £2m on the elderly what about the rest of us! we have a life here too. give something lots of people on this island wants.
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This should of been implemented a long time ago! Im hoping for a big free weight gym.
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I don’t want to appear negative…. But practical is the sensible option! When your talking about spending £2.2 million you need to get things right first time! If it’s taken 14 years to get this this point, what makes anyone think that it will be completed by next spring? No one else would advertise the job before the plans were confirmed and the building has started, so why do it here? Look at the bigger picture guys, please!!
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Mark and Hello have the right idea.
This is definatley something we need on the island for both the local people of all ages and for the holiday makers and holiday home owners!
It may have taken as very long time to come about but atleast we’re getting closer and all the other negative comments dont help us get anywhere, there are some people on this island working very hard in their own time (after work and on weekends) to get this Sport Centre Established and i think they deserve merit for doing this!
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@Hello, I cannot understand your comparison, what I was suggesting was to refurb our run down walks, lumpy bumpy roads, breath some life into shops that are obviously empty by the windows being painted over, give tourists a reason to come her. The BBQ / Picnic thought was because I saw people sitting amongst brambles having a picnic and thought why don’t we have facilities near our Beaches and Tourist attractions, they would be used by all. I support the Sports Centre idea, just not now when there are other better suited ideas we could spend the money on.
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@ Mark – I’m suggesting that an investment such as this will enhance our tourist product and also the lives of those of us who reside here.
What you spend the £2.2m on to achieve a similar effect?
@ Alderney Youth and the other positive posters – thank you.
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Not often I differ with Hello, but where do you get the £2,2m + £300K from? The vast majority does not exist.
It is a lovely idea, and would help the tourist trade, but we canot affored to build it, nor to operate it.
Mark is talking of some low cost items which would also help the tourist trade, but easily affordable and the two need not be in competition for the same funds.
And why the secrecy? I have asked to see the figures twice. The first time, promises but nothing. The 2nd time I was offerd a look in someones office, but was not allowed a copy to look at in my own time. Yet it is taxpayers money they plan on spending. What are they afraid of?
Sorry – nice to have, but??
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To operate it can’t they get some volunteers to do some of the work, obviously there are areas that need qualified people eg life guards, gym trainers. but i would be willing to give a few hours to help out on the desk or cleaning.
also people keep saying about Beau Sejour needing support, when i lived in guernsey i used this place every day but because the island has so many gyms and swimming pools what do you expect you havent got the whole island using it where as here you would. Plus the school here would benefit lots and if there is a bowling alley guernseys is always busy i would be so up for doing this.
why doesnt anyone just have a positive mind and for once think yeh thats just go for it. the island is always the same old negative thinking and its annoying for youths like me to wonder if one day something will benefit us!
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@Alderney Youth – I totally agree with you.
People over here would be willing to put in some time for free and help out on desk or in a cafeteria etc and also there are plenty of trained life guards on the island through the school, we just need to get a few extra trained. There is also plenty of people on the island trained in fitness, as Gym instructors and personal trainers…if we get them involved it will be fine.
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@ Taff – Of course the funding is an issue but if everyone just gives up and takes their ball home at the first sign of difficulty then nothing will happen will it?
There are some funds in place. If Tougis happens then there is a promise of some from there and how about the Gambling Commission? That is for capital projects is it not?
I presume all the other organs of the States open their books to you readily and allow you use of the photocopier so I do wonder why the trustees of this charitable trust won’t allow unfettered access to you too??
As for volunteers – there will be plenty.
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Hello – you can do better than that sarky nonsense.
Twice I have been asked to support this project – financially, and with my time. So I asked to see the figures. I am stil waiting. And so I am very suspicious.
If Alderney has spare capital, then there are far more serious problems to spend it on before this nice-to-have.
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Sorry Taff but you did intimate in your August 18th post that you should have access to the projections on the basis of being a tax payer. Thank you for clearing up the point and explaining that they had approached you to get involved.
So, what else to spend money on? Our transport links spring to mind?
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Advertising for at a manager at this time is pretty special.
Just to put it out there as a tourist I would not be very interested in going to a fitness centre on my holiday. The bowling would be tempting on a rainy day though.
Local use is what should be concentrated on and perhaps with the school and hospital using the facilities it would make the project more viable? Even then how many people are there on the island to keep it up and running?
I understand there are other community halls on the island, perhaps just building a gym with a pool would be more suitable?
Maybe the money could be better spent elsewhere such as subsidising flights to Alderney as it is expensive to travel there. Most of the people I know in Guernsey have been everywhere else in the CI but Alderney. An island hopping package could be created to go to Herm, Sark and Alderney perhaps to encourage them to come from Guernsey? Who knows.
Other tourism ideas could be to do up a fort as a WW2 museum or open up some of the bunkers and do tours.
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@Dani.
You say it shoudl be for the locals but then mention use the money to subsidise the flights for other C.I people. how is this then helping the locals?
its a shame that other C.I people dont come here but maybe a cheap boat link would help we all get to guernsey cheap when the victor hugo comes in.
in regards to the bunkers. i have been saying this for years but noone else seems to see that i had an idea there. lol
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alderney resident
Guernsey and Jersey capitalise off of their WW2 forts, tunnels and bunkers so I don’t see why Alderney shouldn’t. Some people specifically come to the CI to see them.
Cheap boat would be a good idea. Perhaps the Victor hugo should run more regularly.
I thought the subsidising of the flights would benefit the locals in the same way a cheap boat would. More visitors coming over as it is expensive to get to Alderney.
Those visitors would then spend in restaurants, hotels & shops which would mean more taxable income for projects like the one in question. It may even encourage people in the long term to go into business in one of the empty shops in town.
For September the return prices from Guernsey to the other islands are:
Herm £10.50
Sark £26.30
Jersey £36.00 Condor
Jersey £72.00 (Aurigny on average)
Alderney £86.00 (Aurigny) as per the 7th.
The flight figures are rough estimates as time and days change the price.
Are they cutting the Southhampton route to the island or something similar? Most holiday makers will now come via GSY.
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