PLANS to extend the facilities at Tadley Swimming Pool have been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC).

The application is to build an extension on the building to create a new gymnasium at the New Road premises.

If the plans are approved the new extension would link easily to the existing building.

A planning statement reads: “The building setting is important to the design philosophy creating a simple building within its site context.

“The design intention is to create building massing and scale that would complement the existing building context.

“The scale massing and location create a building of unity.”

The gym would cost £430,000 and would open in 2018, subject to planning permission.

The plans have been submitted by Serco Leisure Ltd, which was granted funds from the borough council to propose this plan following an extension of its current leisure contract.

BDBC allocated £573,000 to go towards maintenance and renovation of the swimming pool.

The scheme will also incorporate air conditioning for the community room accommodating more classes and dedicated changing rooms for gym users. 

The planning statement adds: “As an existing building, every effort is being made to provide accessible and inclusive environment suitable for use by the whole community.”

However, an issue which has been raised about the plans is the lack of any addition parking spaces planned.

A comment on the plans read: “We note with some considerable dissatisfaction the definitive statement that no further parking will be created on site.

“Due to the current lack of care spaces, cars are often left parked outside of designated parking bays and occasionally dangerously queue on New Road whilst waiting to gain access.”

Tadley Town Council , however, has lodged no objections to the proposals and welcomed the possibility of adding to the facilities at Tadley Swimming Pool.

BDBC cabinet member for communities and community safety cllr Simon Bound, said: “There’s a large demand from fitness enthusiasts in the Tadley area and they will benefit enormously from having this cutting-edge gym at the pool site.  “This is one of the benefits of the good deal that the council has negotiated to extend the contract to run its sports facilities. It shows our commitment to work in partnership to improve leisure opportunities across the borough.”  Chair of Basingstoke & Deane Community Leisure Trust Hazel Tilbury said: “The Trust is committed to providing a good range of health and fitness activities that are accessible to everyone so that they can enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle.

"The investment by the Trust and Serco will not only benefit this generation, but also generations to come. We are proud of the planned developments and will continue to invest in our facilities for local communities to enjoy.”  A decision is due to be made on the application by September 21.

To comment the application or for more information about the proposals, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/ and search using the reference code 17/02357/FUL.