The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has agreed to the preferred option for their levelling up bid.
The proposal will see Hunstanton given a new leisure centre, replacing the current Oasis facility. This was decided in response to a report that outlined the benefits of replacing the current facility, which would require significant shirt-medium term investment, with a new one that is more energy efficient. This would mean the building has lower running costs, enhanced employment opportunities and would reduce isolation.
Leader of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Stuart Dark MBE, said:
“Our recent survey asking people what they thought about bidding to replace the Oasis showed that there is overwhelming support for a new and improved leisure facility. In just two weeks more than 1,000 people responded.
The Oasis has been a good servant to Hunstanton, but its time has passed. We need to do something now or a generation of young and older people will lose out on the chance to benefit from good quality facilities that support physical and mental wellbeing.
So, the question for me is not so much why would we do this, but why would we not do it?”
The opportunity to develop a new leisure centre has the ability to improve health and wellbeing for people all over the borough, whilst the project emphasises the need to continue offering affordable entry for residents, including young people in care.
James Wild, Member of Parliament for North West Norfolk, said:
“This project could give Hunstanton a state-of-the-art new leisure and entertainment centre that would benefit Hunstanton, and North West Norfolk as a whole. The ageing building was designed originally to support the summer economy. Now we have an opportunity to secure capital funding to create a new facility to boost the all-year-round visitor economy, support jobs, regeneration and improve local health and wellbeing.”
At the meeting where the bid was considered, there were also two other projects up for consideration. One of these was the decision to support the county council’s bid for up to £50 million to improve the transport links in King’s Lynn.
On 17 November we’re joined by public sector leaders to explore the key challenges that levelling up brings at the Public Sector Levelling Up Virtual Event. Gain insight into what public sector leaders need to navigate the plan while prioritising communities and how to shift regional inequalities to support people and places. Join us for the full day event by registering here.
