Purpose

The removal of asbestos and demolition of
Woodchurch Leisure Centre.

Decision

The Director of Finance
has approved the award to J Freeley Ltd (Company Number 01719179)
via Procure Partnerships PCR 2015 Compliant Framework North West £50,000 to £1,000,000
Demolition Parties Lot of:
 
(1) 
A Contract for asbestos removal from Woodchurch Leisure Centre,
Carr Bridge Road, Woodchurch (Woodchurch Leisure Centre) of a
contract value of £641,434.50 with a 7-week term; and
 
(2) 
A contract for demolition of Woodchurch Leisure Centre and site
clearance, of a contract value of £659,949.32 with a 12-week
contract term.
 

Reasons for the decision

Woodchurch Leisure
centre was built and opened in the 1960’s. It was a
“building of its time” in terms of construction methods
and is now over 60 years old and at the end of its economic life.
It has received limited maintenance over the past few years due to
the Council’s financial position. It is a costly building to
run and maintain due to its condition and layout. The customer base
and usage of the facility had also declined significantly in recent
years, compounding the subsidy required by the Council to sustain
its operation. It was the least used of all Council Leisure
Centres. The building was closed during the Covid pandemic and then
permanently closed as part of the 2022/23 Budget process.
 
Members then decided
to explore a Community Asset Transfer of the building with two
potential interested parties. A report to Policy and Resources
Committee of 21 November 2023 provides the background to this
process. Unfortunately, neither of the proposals were viable and
so, the Committee decided, having exhausted all the possible
options, to demolish the building as there was no future use for
it. During this time, the building was subjected to significant
vandalism, and this increased the costs to bring it back into use
and further impacted negatively of the viability of transferring
it.
 
The Council has recently
worked with the Football Foundation to construct a super-sized
artificial grass pitch on the former running track at the leisure
centre along with a Pavilion and car parking facilities. There is
an opportunity, following demolition of the leisure centre, to
construct a further two artificial grass pitches on this site and /
or additional alternative outdoor sports provision, which will form
a community sports hub and help to meet the increasing demand for
such facilities as identified in the Council’s Playing Pitch
Strategy and Active Wirral Strategy. Providing such facilities will
also support implementation of the Council’s Local
Plan.
 

Alternative options considered

The
retention of the building as a leisure centre has been excluded as
the cost to refurbish the building to current standards is
excessive. The building has fallen into disrepair and has an
unsightly appearance. The ongoing repair and maintenance costs
along with the building check costs will continually
increase.
 
An
asset transfer of the building has been fully explored but is not
possible for viability reasons.