Residents living near the site of the proposed Smethwick aquatic centre have had their say on the plans.
Sandwell Council recently wrote to hundreds of people living in properties close to Londonderry Playing Fields.
Residents were given a leaflet detailing outline plans for the site which will include a football pitch, changing facilities, improved green space and a children’s play area – as well as an Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, diving pool and community pool.
They were invited to rank a list of eight areas in order of importance to help the council better understand what issues matter most to them.
More than 100 responses were received and revealed the most important matters for local residents were:
- Improving local roads and public transport,
- Providing enough parking spaces to avoid impact on the surrounding roads,
- Keeping trees around the site and creating paths for people to enjoy walking and running.
The results of the engagement exercise with local residents will be used to help address priority issues when formal public consultation on the development launches next month (December).
Councillor Bill Gavan, cabinet member for leisure said: “I’d like to thank residents who took the time to give us their views on the new aquatics centre in Smethwick. We welcome the comments and we will be taking them on board.
“We are really pleased with the positive feedback we received from local residents and will continue to work with everyone throughout this project to keep them informed.
"People will have another opportunity to have their say on the proposed development during the formal planning consultation next month.
“We are very excited about the new Smethwick Aquatics Centre which will give local people access to world-class sporting facilities and leave a lasting legacy for Sandwell and its residents for generations to come.”