Leisure centre demolition scheduled as priority due to 'high risk of vandalism and anti-social behaviour'

A contractor has been appointed to knock down the former Shadsworth Leisure Centre building before it becomes a magnet for yobs and vandals. Blackburn with Darwen Council has chosen Preston-based Bradley Demolition Ltd from 11 bidders for the job at a price of £578,714.77.

The centre in Shadsworth Road on the 1950s former council estate was controversially shut by the authority on January 1, 2019 as the fitness hub had been losing money. The pool at the leisure centre, which first opened in 1974, had already closed for the final time on February 1 2018.

The authority’s Finance Council in February authorised a capital budget of £1.5million to cover the demolition costs for Shadsworth Leisure Centre and also Daisyfield Pool. Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee approved knocking down the building subject to measures to protect roosting bats in July last year with a view to undertaking the 18-week task in the autumn.

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Now the work will take place this summer while the homeless pods on the car park are relocated.

A report by the authority’s growth programme director Simon Jones says: “The council has declared the former leisure centre at Shadsworth as surplus to requirements. A decision has been taken to demolish the leisure centre during the summer of 2024.

“The demolition works include demolition of the building, asbestos removal, infilling of voids, grubbing up of foundations, disconnection of services, external works to secure the site and any party wall works. The building is vacant with a high risk of vandalism and can attract anti-social behaviour and as such we have prioritised the tender to demolish this building as a high priority in the 2024/25 financial year.

“Daisyfield Pool will be demolished later in the financial year once all service connections and surveys have been complete and a tender process has been carried out. We had split the budget of £1.5 million as £1million for Shadsworth Leisure Centre demolition (due to the extensive amount of asbestos) and £500,000 for Daisyfield Pools.

“The Shadsworth Leisure Centre tender return is £578,714.77 and with surveys and fees this is well within the budget allocated of £1m. We have consulted with adults to assist in the relocation of the homeless pods to facilitate the demolition contractors access and ensure the demolition site can be adequately separated from the homeless pods site.

“We have also liaised regularly with Star Academies, the neighbouring property, regarding timescales and the proposals around the demolition.”