Grange set to get new pool
Last updated 08:36, Thursday, 13 November 2008
The Cabinet of South Lakeland District Council has chosen the preferred developer to regenerate the Berners pool site in Grange.
Berners Vision Partnership, led by the Grange-based Lake District hotelier Jonathan Denby, was chosen at a special Cabinet meeting in Grange, attended by over 150 local residents.
The partnership, which includes Mr Denby's South Lakes Hotels Group, Kendal-based Russell Armer Limited and primary care developers GPI, will now enter extensive negotiations with South Lakeland District Council about its plans as well as talks with the local Primary Care Trust.
The partnership's initial concepts for the site include a public leisure centre and pool, a two-storey medical centre, 21 apartments overlooking Morecambe Bay including a number of affordable properties, a Lido Leisure and Café, and Cumbria's first ever 5-star retirement hotel.
The site, which includes the Berners Close car park and former nursery, the Berners Pool site and former open-air swimming pool, is owned by SLDC.
The council chose the Berners Vision Partnership because its proposals best fit the council's aim of ensuring that any development offers a range of public benefits to the Grange community, from health to the local economy. The proposal was also the preferred choice of local residents and Grange representatives who were consulted on all five proposals in September.
SLDC arranged for all five potential developers to display their plans in the town and the exhibition was attended by around 1,700 people.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Wellbeing, said: "SLDC's Cabinet made a firm commitment early in this process to listen carefully to local people and their representatives when making the final decision and we've done exactly that. This was a difficult decision - all five proposals had many things to commend them - so the views of the public played a very important part in making the final choice. We've developed a successful working relationship with the people of Grange throughout the past few months and I will be working to ensure that this continues into the future."
The eventual scheme, which will be developed, will be subject to planning permission.
No, Grange does not 'need' a supermarket, not even Booths. What it needs is investment in its infrastructure that builds on its strengths, such as the diversity of local shops. We need better pavements, free parking schemes, better transport, more co-ordination between current shop owners to market Grange as complete unit more effectively. I have lived in cities where my nearest supermarket was further away than Ulverston or Kendal is from Grange, so I don't mind a little inconvenience to go there now. I know that I can't have a supermarket in Grange AND have a nice Grange. I work in Ulverston, and the town centre has loads of empty shops, and this is just the start of the downturn.
View all comments on this article
Have your say
It's such a shame the sunken garden and gallery space was not picked for the Lido, Why have a 2nd fitness center when Berners pool will probably have a Gym (if it lasts this time). The Lido would of been enjoyed by everyone as the garden & gallery space but no doubt you will have to pay an extortionate joining fee to gain access to the fitness center. Very Disappointed.
Posted by Michael on 17 November 2008 kl. 21:33