New Bedworth leisure centre scheme on hold

A new leisure centre planned for Bedworth, Warwickshire between Coventry and Nuneaton, is to be put on hold, CoventryLive reports.

CoventryLive reported that the costs of the project, which include a Physical Activity Hub and new features in the Miners’ Welfare Park, have spiralled to £34m.

An emergency ‘value engineering’ exercise was held with Sport England in December to decide the way forward, when the borough council admitted that it faced a ‘huge challenge’ to ensure the project met time and budget deadlines.

Councillors were advised there should be a review of the whole project and the funding available for it, CoventryLive said. A preliminary report said the costs could rise beyond £34m.

“The £34m project budget sum is not a fixed price cost and additional negotiations with the contractor and also agreement with shared risks as part of a formal JCT [Joint Contracts Tribunal] contract will be required,” the report states. “This could well increase beyond the £34m budget cost until a contract price is formally signed off.

“The Council have undertaken due diligence and identified a contingency sum for the project. However, there are associated risks with any project of this size and nature.

“The site of the Miners’ Welfare Park also poses complications due to the previous use of the site/land from mining works. Ground investigations works have taken place, but this still poses a risk until works are completed above ground level.”

In a statement, Council leader Kris Wilson said: “Our priority is to help make Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough a great place to live, work and visit, and this project has an important part to play in delivering that priority. But we have an overriding duty to ensure that the project is affordable and deliverable.”

Wilson went on to say: “Officers and I will be speaking to a range of agencies including government departments. In these difficult circumstances, we believe by delaying further work at this time we can take the time we need to get the very best result for the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth.”

Sport England and Levelling Up Fund money was provided for the project, but the council still faces having to borrow more.

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