Councils agree building-swap deal that could pave the way for refurbishments
Medway Centre, in Huntingdon. - Credit: Archant
After years of negotiations, Huntingdon Town Council has voted to agree a deal between the authority and Huntingdonshire District Council for the exchange of buildings that will allow for redevelopment of key sites.
Under the agreement, the town authority will be given land the Medway Centre sits on and the district council will now be handed the freehold of the One Leisure site in Huntingdon.
“I’m very glad that we have now come to an agreement with the town council,” said leader of the district council, Councillor Robin Howe.
The freehold of the Medway Centre land will be transferred to the town council and will be given £300,000 to improve council assets.
The town council has also been offered a loan of £800,000 which can be used for the development of a new community centre if a decision is made to sell off the Medway
You may also want to watch:
Centre.
Councillor Tom Sanderson, chairman of the leisure and community services committee, said: “It is a great deal as it allows the Medway Centre to either be refurbished or for us to build a new centre.
Most Read
- 1 New griddle restaurant opens in St Neots
- 2 Man from Alconbury sentenced for sexual assault
- 3 Woman who died in fatal crash in Eaton Ford has been named
- 4 New emergency facilities open at Hinchingbrooke Hospital
- 5 Do you remember the old cinemas in Huntingdonshire?
- 6 Concerns raised about increase in lorries if plan goes ahead
- 7 Godmanchester Mill River Enhancement project starts in May
- 8 Domestic abuse survivor speaks out on 'reign of terror'
- 9 New Shoe Zone 'concept store' opens
- 10 Woman dies after car hits lamppost in Eaton Ford
“I think it would be great if we could have a new centre, a new build, it would be great for the community.”
Cllr Sanderson added that if a new build was to go ahead it would allow for the hall to be energy efficient and built with modern facilities. For district council members, the agreement is a chance to plan a refurbishment of the One Leisure Gym, in St Peter’s Road.
Cllr Howe said: “The One Leisure facility in Huntingdon is very dated; it is not all fit for purpose. The investment we have to make is between £600,000 to £800,000 to create a state of the art facility.”
