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Wigan in the Swim - New pool and library at heart of
multi-million pound service centre
 Wigan is on track to get a state of the art
new library and swimming pool as part of an ambitious £64 million plan to
revitalise the civic heart of the town and create a unique public service
'hub'.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has announced that Wigan is one of six
councils chosen to go forward for a share of public funding for new
libraries and sports projects under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
The plans include a new 25m x 21m pool to replace the existing
International Pool, and a new central library to replace the current
premises in the basement of the Town Hall.
The council now has to submit a 'business case' to the government by June
2006 to qualify for the funding. Once the final go-ahead is given work
could start in 2007 and be completed a couple of years later.
Wigan Council Leader, Lord Smith, said: "This is very welcome news, and
I'm delighted that the government is able to support our vision for
transforming Wigan's leisure and culture services.
"We have recognised for some time that both the existing town centre
swimming pool and central library do not offer the quality of facilities
that the public of Wigan expect and deserve.
"This ambitious project will create a first class library and modern pool
fit for the 21st century, along with improved customer access to a range
of public services. This news marks the first stage in being able to
realise our vision.
"The council has an excellent track record of effective partnership
working, and I am confident we will now be able to deliver the business
case that will bring this funding to Wigan."
The overall project is being described as a Joint Service Centre, and
while the new pool and library are the centrepiece, the plans go well
beyond this, heralding a stunning new civic heart for the town centre.
The aim is to link all public services within a complex of buildings
connected by bridges. According to the council's submission: "It will
result in the conversion of the traditional administrative centre in Wigan
into a vibrant accessible hub for the majority of local public services
that will become the natural focus of the Wigan community."
As well as the Council and the Leisure and Culture Trust, other partners
may include the Primary Care Trust, Greater Manchester Police, the
Citizens Advice Bureau, Victim Support, Wigan and Leigh Housing.
There will be four 'zones' - for information and learning, community
safety, democracy and healthy living. The swimming pool, along with a
smaller children's pool and a hydrotherapy pool, will be at the heart of
the Healthy Living Zone, while the new library will lie at the heart of
the Information Zone as the first port of call for all community advice
and information about public services.
Rodney Hill, chief executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said:
"This is very exciting news. When we announced our plans last year to
transform the borough's leisure and culture services under the banner of
Getting Wigan Active, we knew that a new pool and library were integral to
their success.
"The international pool has long passed its sell-by date and is completely
uneconomic to renovate, while Wigan library is far from ideal as a major
town centre facility. We now have the chance to build two state of the art
new facilities that will transform public services in the town centre.
"Coming on top of the plans for Leigh Sports Village, this is a very
exciting time for the Trust and the Council. This is still the first stage
but it is clear that Tessa Jowell has been impressed with our vision for
the future. We can now put together a detailed plan that will turn the
dream into reality."
The new library will be built on the site of the current Municipal
Buildings on Hewlett Street and Millgate, although the building's red
terracotta façade would remain. The pool will be built on the site of the
existing pool - news which should please those who have been campaigning
for it to be retained in the town centre.
• PFI funding involves a partnership between public bodies, like councils,
and the private sector. A private company designs, builds and finances an
asset such as a school or library, and the public body agrees a long-term
operating contract for the services. The total amount of PFI 'credits' on
offer to Wigan by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister amounts to £64.6 million.
-ends-
Note to editors
Further information:
David Mather, Head of PR, Wigan Council, 01942 827164.
Chris Dunbar, PR Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, 01942 486937
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