Mid Beds District Council was replaced by Central Bedfordshire Council on April 1st 2009. Central Bedfordshire Council now provides all local government services for the geographical area formerly covered by Mid Beds District Council.

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Flitwick Leisure Facilities Consultation

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Flitwick Town Council has been working together with Mid Beds District Council during 2007 to produce a set of interlinked proposals which will cater for the sport and leisure needs of the people of Flitwick for the foreseeable future.

The initial drive behind this strategy was the desire to develop a new Leisure Centre to replace the facility at Steppingley Road which has become outdated and cannot meet the current demand and to provide the type of facility which will attract the next generation of members.

In order to provide enough capital receipt for the Town Council’s contribution to the construction of a new Leisure Centre and Football Centre, it is necessary that the site of the existing Leisure Centre and part of the adjacent playing fields are sold.

The land at Dunstable Road which is currently a public open space, children’s play area and a skate park facility,has been identified as the best location for the new Leisure Centre. The links to the Town Centre and the soon to be improved Rail Station are much more sustainable than the current out of town position. The land not used for the Leisure Centre building will be a new neighbourhood park with new play facilities.

 

Steppingley Road- Visual Assessment (Current Leisure Centre Site)

Image and Perception:

  • A cheaply built “crinkly tin” building complete with aluminium framed windows.
  • Pleasant approach along Steppingley Road with housing, on the outskirts of the town centre.
  • Well attended centre with lots of indoor and outdoor activities.

Gaps and Enclosure:

  • Access road to be kept open along main access road to service allotments and maintenance building.
  • Main access to Leisure Centre well defined and legible.
  • Site enclosed by residential boundaries to the East, fairly open to the main road and defined by fences and hedgerows to the West and North.

Views – Long Distance Vistas and Snapshots:

  • Views to the north are defined by woodland belt on higher ground beyond the playing fields.
  • Pleasant views along Steppingley Road and out to the South across open fields.
  • Better views are to the western edge of the site looking both North and South.

Gateways and Nodes:

  • The Leisure Centre is on the western fringe of Flitwick and is one of the last main elements of the built up settlement before reaching open countryside.

Related documents:

Dunstable Road- Visual Assessment (The Proposed Site)

Image and perception:

  • A large, flat, fairly featureless open expanse of green parkland.
  • Main play areas located into the northern edge with the remainder laid out to open grass land and used for dog walking.

Gaps and Enclosure:

  • The western boundary is heavily screened from the residential estate behind by a thick tree belt.
  • The northern boundary is visually closed off by the boundary to the village hall with the planting of large leylandii and a wooden fence.
  •  Further to the west it is possible to access the car park to the village hall and proceed on foot through into the land which separates the Beehive Pub from the local shopping parade.
  • The southern boundary is the most open with sparse tree planting and a light metal rail fence.

Views – Long Distance Vistas and Snapshots:

  •  The park affords glimpses from Dunstable Road through gaps in the tree planting and from the north east corner at the boundary with the village hall.
  • There are long views into the park and up towards the shopping parade and library from Temple Way.
  • Views into the park from the residential estate to the west are practically non-existent due to the heavy tree planting belt which runs the length of the western boundary.

Gateways and Nodes:

  • The library and shopping parade together with the village hall form a central node in partnership with the children’s play area at the north of the park. This area also houses the weekly market.
  •  The potential to link this area much more strongly to the rest of the Town Centre should be a key aim for the regeneration of Flitwick: particularly once the new Leisure Centre is developed.

Related documents:

The New Leisure Facility Features

In response to local views the new facility will feature:

  • An eight lane, 25 metre pool
  • Separate learner pool
  • Four court sports hall
  • 100 station fitness room
  • Two multi-purpose activity rooms
  • Dance studio
  • Two squash courts
  • Crèche for up to 26 children
  • Coffee shop
  •  Health spa, sauna and steam room

It could also include:

  • Four lane 10-pin bowling alley
  • Soft play area
  • Climbing wall

Flitwick Leisure Centre Consultation

A consultation ran from 9th November 2007 to 14th December 2007.

Linked documents: