AN INVESTMENT of more than £475,000 is needed to carry out urgent work to ensure a leisure centre and its swimming pools can continue to be heated.
Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre in Christchurch has experienced “recent plant failures” which have jeopardised the operational capacity of the council-owned facility.
BCP Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve an application for £478,500 to be used from the Green Futures Fund for replacement plant, installation of controls, energy monitoring system and replacement of pool covers.
A report by council officers ahead of the meeting on March 8 says: “Further plant failures will potentially lead to the centre being unable to operate and loss of revenue.
“Replacing existing plant with modern, more efficient plant will also save money in running costs and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.
“Furthermore, new plant provides the opportunity for more long-term low carbon solutions to be added in future, such as heat pumps, which the existing plant does not.”
The four existing gas fired boilers at the leisure centre are deemed to be at the end of their economic life, with one already having failed.
Council officers are planning to install a “mobile energy centre” as a temporary solution to overcome the immediate problem of the condemned boiler and to allow the new equipment to be installed, should the funding be approved.
The proposed works will lead to energy savings of around £63,000 a year, with potential to install further renewable technology in the future to improve efficiency, as well as reduce costs and carbon emissions.
A council business case for the proposal says: “These urgent works will ensure the ongoing operation of a valued corporate and community as set; however, they will not prohibit the delivery of a long-term sustainable solution for the site.
“Working across council services and with the support of external partners, these works constitute Phase 1 of a long-term investment and modernisation plan that will ensure safe and efficient operation whilst delivering value for money.”
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