Two Gateshead swimming pools set for £1.3m boost in effort to secure future

Austen Shakespeare

15 September 2024 at 5:31 am·1-min read

Dunston Leisure Centre in Gateshead. — -Credit: (Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Council chiefs are set to approve a £1.3m cash boost for two swimming pools in Gateshead.

Gateshead Council's cabinet is expected to approve a cash injection into Dunston Lesiure Centre and Blaydon Leisure and Primary Care Centre's swimming pools to reduce their carbon footprint and secure their futures. According to council documents, Blaydon and Dunston pools have been allocated £800,000 and £500,000 in external funding respectively to help heat and light them more efficiently.

The allocated cash will help drill and explore for minewater and install a minewater pump to help heat the Blaydon pool. Minewater is warmed through natural processes underground and if properly managed can be used to heat buildings. Minewater has been previously identified in the adjacent Shibdon pond.

It is also proposed that the Dunston pool and leisure centre be equipped with an air source pump which extracts heat from the air outside and transfers it inside. Each facility, within the allocated funds, will also use £100,000 for the installation of environmentally friendlier LED lighting.

While the report identifies some risks, including planning permission complications, the council requires fast action in order to retain the funding. Council documents state: "If the Council delayed this decision until all risks were resolved, the programme would slip by circa 3 months, and risk losing circa £1m of funding, which would make the project unviable."

Gateshead Council's cabinet will gather on Tuesday, September 17, at 10am in Gateshead Civic Centre to decide on the proposals.

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