Kingston Council plans to open the new complex by Spring 2027.
Kingston Council’s plans for a new Kingfisher leisure centre, two years after the previous building was abolished, have met with disappointment by locals.
The council’s planning application includes a date of Spring 2027 for the new centre; the complex was originally closed in December 2019.
Russel Ayling lives in Kingston and attended the Kingfisher leisure centre regularly before its closure.
He said: “Eight years is an unacceptable amount of time for Kingston and Surbiton to be without such an important facility.”
If the application is approved the centre will feature a main pool, a learner pool, fitness studios, a gym, sports halls, health suites, a café and onsite parking.
Other residents explained that they would be unhappy if the new leisure centre didn’t retain some of the previous building’s facilities.
Theo Barbier said: “We want to keep the beach style pool. It’s safe and effective for all ages. We don’t want a pool like the New Malden centre; this is the reason families went to Kingfisher.”
The New Malden centre swimming pool is an Olympic style pool, with 6 lanes and is 25 metres in length.
Complaints about location
Some residents also disagreed with the planned location of the site.
James Baroque said he felt the former Wilko’s site would be a better location for the new leisure centre rather than the town centre.
Questions of how it will be paid for and the cost of the rebuild
Former Kingston councillor, Jon Tolley, said that after Kingfisher’s initial closure in 2019 there were talks to replace the whole facility. However, these discussions between MPs and councillors involved “fantasy timelines and costings” which broke down under a low budget.
Tolley added: “It’s still not clear to me how it’s going to be paid for.”
Despite his doubts, Tolley is confident that this new facility will come.
The original budget for the rebuild of the Kingfisher leisure centre was estimated to be around £39.6 million, however costs are anticipated to reach £79.5 million.
The council have revised plans to reduce the size of the leisure centre from five to two storeys, which they believe will keep the cost within their revised budget of £44.5 million.
Concerns over whether it will open on schedule
Former councillor Tolley was less optimistic about the opening date of the new leisure centre. He said: “I’d be very surprised if it opens on schedule.”
Kingston resident, Gary Rolfe said: “If it opens by 2030 it’d be a miracle.”
If the application is approved, the council said they will start construction of the centre in Spring 2025.
Kingston Council has yet to respond to a request for comment.
