FHDC to Consider Huge Investment in Local Swimming Pools

Financially supporting the re-opening of Folkestone Sports Centre pool and funding improvements to Hythe Pool will be discussed by councillors next week.

Bought by The Sports Trust last May, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has been asked for a one-off £2.4m grant towards the refurbishment of the Radnor Park Avenue pool, changing rooms and pool plant machinery and the installation of solar roof panels.

This capital grant would replace the annual £150,000 that the council gave to the sports centre charity running the site before it closed in August 2024.

Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will also be asked next week (27 January) to consider improvements for Hythe Pool. If given the go-ahead these would begin once the Folkestone pool is open again. 

At the council’s request leisure experts are working on three options for the South Road site, ranging from refurbishing just the pool area and changing facilities to a full re-model of the pool and creating a village layout changing space.

Later this year the council will also consider whether to take up the parcel of land offered by developers at Martello Lakes on the outskirts of Hythe. This is part of a Section 106 agreement, which compels a developer to offer investment in the community to support the needs of families moving into the new homes.

But Overview and Scrutiny members will hear that the site is not considered suitable to accommodate a new swimming leisure centre, due to the limited catchment area for customers. Sports experts have advised that a better location for a new centre would be at the planned Otterpool Park development and alternative sports and leisure uses for the Martello Lakes land are to be explored.

It is proposed that £6 million is set aside for the Hythe Pool work in the council’s proposed 2026/27 capital budget due to be agreed in March. 

However, this could be offset by £5.5m included in the Section 106 agreement in addition to the land offer. The money is earmarked for the improvement of district sport and leisure facilities, with priority given to Hythe.

Cllr Mike Blakemore, Cabinet Member for Community and Collaboration said:

“Exciting opportunities are being considered for improving sport and leisure facilities in the district. In particular, there is an urgent need to re-open and improve facilities for swimming in the district. 

“We have been working to create solutions and improve facilities for the district’s residents, within the funding we have available, and I look forward to further discussion with councillors.”

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting begins at 6pm on Tuesday 27 January and can be viewed via a live webcast. Following the meeting, councillors will share their views with the council’s Cabinet.