No ‘obvious’ case for regional sports hubs, updated report says

There is no “obvious” business case for introducing sports hubs, a Manx government report has said.

An updated version of a document examining the feasibility of the island’s regional pools becoming part of local hubs is set to be debated in Tynwald in June.

The original publication found there was “no scenario” where the regional facilities could continue without increased investment, and recommended the closure of the southern pool.

But in April it was confirmed it, along with the western and northern pool would continue to be subsidised until March 2025.

The latest report said the Southern Swimming Pool board had accepted that “any significant deterioration of the existing pool may mean closure in the future”.

In its suggested way forward, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) said there was “now a firm commitment in place to design a sports facility and swimming pool as part of the new Castle Rushen High School development”.

It had also been agreed that the government would work with the facilities to understand how joint working might deliver a greater cost benefit, and “support an element of standardisation” across current services.

As part of that, it was agreed that DESC should work with the regional pool boards to create a service level agreement.

Tynwald will be asked to receive the latest updated document next month, and the department is due to provide another update to the Council of Ministers in September.