Westbury’s new leisure plans are moving forward

A GROUP, ready to steer the plans which could see Westbury’s sport, leisure and other council-run facilities and services being moved to one development, is being formed.Wiltshire Council is progressing with a similar campus of facilities in other towns, and now the council will look at a proposal for Westbury. People who are interested in being part of the group have now come forward and the Westbury Area Board will be forming a new shadow community operations board (COB). There will be eight places on the COB, with one member to be drawn from the town and parish councils, one member to represent young people and education, one person from the Westbury Area Board, three members from community and user groups such as sports clubs, one member of the “wider community”, and a project manager from the council to guide the process.Representing the community, the members of the group will influence, recommend, and consider the detail of the emerging campus facilities, whilst working under the auspices of the area board.  The formation of Westbury’s COB is due to be announced at the next meeting of the Westbury Area Board on 19th April . Wiltshire Council says that rounds of consultation will take place this year, with the council expected to consider plans for the development in the summer of 2013. There is a dedicated page to the Westbury campus development on the Wiltshire Council website, at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ communityandliving/communitycampuses.Wiltshire Council’s county-wide campus programme has been presented as a strategy to reduce the long term financial, environmental, and operational pressures on operating ageing, low quality buildings, with a 40% reduction in operating costs. A campus is defined by the council as “a building, or buildings, in a community area that provide the services the community area needs in an accessible location. This may also include partner services.” Campus buildings are to include a shared reception, community space, accessible community IT, catering facilities, and personal care facilities for disabled users. Other services, for example libraries, leisure centres, and youth services could potentially be included in a campus, along with facilities for individuals to meet with specialist services such as housing, revenues, and benefits. One of the main ideas behind campuses is to create a flexible space which can be used for a variety of purposes and by a variety of people and organisations.