The next step in shaping the future of Dewsbury’s leisure provision has been taken, as the community continues to mourn the loss of its much-loved leisure centre.
Dewsbury Sports Centre first closed its doors in 2023 after potentially dangerous Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was found in the building. The site remained shut and was earmarked for permanent closure, with the final decision to do so made by Cabinet in November.
When closure was agreed, the council pledged to look at future sports and fitness provision in Dewsbury, and now, an online survey has been launched to help the local authority gain knowledge about the opportunities and barriers to exercise and fitness for people in the area. This will run until Sunday, 20 July, with a link at the bottom of this article.
People in the Dewsbury and Batley areas will also be invited to attend local workshops and focus groups as part of the consultation.
Cllr Carole Pattison, Leader of Kirklees Council said: “We always want our services to be shaped by the voices of residents. By sharing your views, you will help us understand the needs and preferences of our communities.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re already taking part in regular physical activity or not. Whether you’re active a little, a lot, or somewhere in between, we want to hear from you.”
The decision to permanently close the former sports centre allows for the demolition of the council-owned ‘wet-side’, with this to be turned into a car park or take on another alternative use. As for the ‘dry-side’ of the facility, the local authority will be exiting a 125-lease, which could incur a “significant financial cost”, an earlier council report explained.
Closure came despite a great deal of opposition from the local community and cllrs, with the move branded ‘negligent’ by some. Campaigners said the ongoing closure of the site had left a “profound void” in the town, with young people losing a “lifeline”.
This stance was reiterated by Cllr Hanifa Darwan at April’s Full Council meeting, who branded Dewsbury’s health inequalities a “terrible injustice” and spoke of the community’s “suffering” as a result of the closure. In response, Cllr Pattison, urged Cllr Darwan and her colleagues in North Kirklees to get involved in the consultation.
The online survey is available to complete here: https://survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/DfEF0Q
Focus groups and community workshops will be taking place in late June and early July. To register your interest in taking part in a focus group, please email research@brightsparksagency.com.
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