Plug pulled on plans for Maryport swimming pool as cost worries escalate

Plans to build a swimming pool in Maryport have been axed amid money worries, Cumberland Council has confirmed.

Council leaders were asked to reconsider the decision not to proceed with the development at the Wave Centre. But planners had noted “the scheme as proposed was not sustainable and would have long term revenue cost implications for the Cumberland Council which were prohibitive The re-scoping of projects would enable the funding to be retained and utilised within the Future High Streets Programme.”

Speaking after an Executive meeting, Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of the Council, said: “I welcomed the opportunity for the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to have the chance to look in more detail at our decision not to go ahead with a swimming pool at the Wave and to have access to the same information we did in making that decision. This information included the independent financial assessment report which showed the potential increased costs of running of the Wave Centre could reach £500k a year and that this was not due to short-term transitory issues like the current high rates of inflation.

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“It was a difficult decision and I understand the disappointment of many in the Maryport community. However, I hope the members of the scrutiny committee understand the financial challenges presented by this project, which we believe make it unsustainable in the long-term. Deadlines are also extremely tight and it is unlikely that the project could now be built in the timescales allowed.

“The timing of this decision has been very difficult, coming so soon following the vesting of Cumberland Council. Whilst we await the outturn positions of our predecessor councils our budgetary position remains partially unclear, and this decision required a significant financial contribution – both of one-off capital funding, but also ongoing annual revenue spend.

“Cumberland Council is acutely aware of the current economic climate – both in respect of council funding and also of the pressures on the people of Cumberland. Any money that we commit to spending must be mindful of those pressures at all times – and just as we all take care of how we spend our own money, so we will take care of how we spend Cumberland’s money. Being robust and prudent in our financial management unfortunately left us with few options here.

“With hindsight there are lessons to be learned from this process. I understand why the decision needed to be taken in ‘part two’ due to the commercial confidentiality of the material in question. But I do want to make decisions in public as much as possible to maximise transparency especially on issues of high public interest. This is partly why I welcomed the ability to explain the decision to the cross-party scrutiny committee.

“Officers are continuing to look at other options for this scheme and we await feedback on this. I encourage people from the community to be part of that process.”

The call-in was signed by Cllr Carni McCarron-Holmes, Cllr Bill Pegram, Cllr Jimmy Grisdale, Cllr Andrew Semple and Cllr Markus Campbell-Savours. Cllr McCarron-Holmes was particularly keen that trustees of the Maryport Community Pool CIO were given the opportunity to meet with Executive members to discuss their decision.

The cost of building a pool at The Wave Centre has increased dramatically alongside rising energy prices. Councillors said they were left with no option but to shelve the initial plan, stating potential subsidies for the building could reach half a million pounds per year.

The original budget for the creation of a swimming pool at The Wave was around £5,000,000. As of March 2023, the build costs have increased to over £5,600,900.

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