Pewsey Campus gets the go-ahead (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pewsey Campus gets the go-ahead

8:00am Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

THE go-ahead was given this week to the Pewsey campus project, ensuring the future of the village leisure centre.

The campus will comprise the leisure centre, pool, youth centre, Pewsey Vale School, Pewsey Primary and the Children’s Centre on one site.

A new building will link Pewsey Vale School with the leisure centre and pool, providing a shared access for centre users and pupils.

Wiltshire Council will fund the makeover for the leisure centre, its swimming pool and the youth club, which are to be modernised and insulated. It is hoped a toddlers’ pool and a jacuzzi may be provided. The plans also feature a skateboard park.

Parish council chairman Bob Woodward led the team campaigning for the changes over the past 18 months.

Yesterday he praised the support from colleagues on the campus committee and from Pewsey Vale School head teacher Carol Grant.

In recent years there have been several threats to the future of Pewsey’s leisure centre as local government spending has been slashed.

Coun Woodward said: “Those years of ‘save our leisure centre’ campaigns are past. Its future is assured with the campus project.”

He praised Mrs Grant’s contribution to the project and for her pitch to Wiltshire Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, when approval was given.

The parish council has pledged £40,000 towards the skateboard park and £15,000 towards the new community facilities, money it has received from Section 106 agreements from housing developers in recent years.