By Cem Turhan and Josh Mangham
A new era of university sport beckons after the go-ahead was given last month for the University to build its first-ever swimming pool, as part of a £9 million York Sport Village in Heslington East.
In what represents a major coup for the University, York Sport President Sam Asfahani has said that the swimming pool will revolutionise sport at the University.
He said: “It will completely change the landscape of university sport. The question I’m always asked by prospective candidates is if we have a swimming pool. We’re a top 10 university academically, so frankly it’s strange that we don’t have a pool.
“Having the pool will increase the number of serious, high-level athletes who are interested in coming to York University. Applications for the University will increase directly as a result of having the pool, and we can look forward to improving our standing in the BUCS tables and as a university.”
According to schematics, the pool will be 25 metres long with eight lanes and a second 20 metre wide training pool. The Sports Village will also boast a Jacuzzi, steam rooms, and a further fitness training and gym area similar to the Sports Centre at James College. In addition, there will be several new G3 outdoor facilities.
An inability to secure funding for the project had been the main stumbling block until recently, with figures at the University deeming the cost of a new sports complex to be too high.
COMPLETION DATE
The financing for the sports centre was finally approved last month though, and the University is now on the lookout for contractors to develop the project. Pro-Vice Chancellor for Estates and Strategic Projects Elizabeth Heaps confirmed to Vision that the target date of having the swimming pool built is “the end of 2012.”
Heaps said: “It has taken some time to confirm the funding we could put forward, and considering the amount of funding we had at first wasn’t enough to do the first plans we had, we had to refine the plans to get the swimming pool built.”
Under final negotiations the University is placing in a total of £5million, whilst the City of York Council is putting forward a further £3million and a successful bid to Sport England means that a final £1million can be added to the fund.
The plan was created by a joint working group made up of representatives from the University, York City Council, swimming clubs in York, advisors from the ASA (British Swimming), representatives from schools and also from the Army.
Chancellor Heaps explained that the name of the building was strategically planned: “We are calling it York Sport Village at the minute and that’s because some people outside of the University might fear that it is a University-only pool, and there are sadly some people who are quite resistant against the University or feel they wouldn’t be welcome.”
MEMBERSHIP
On the issue of membership costs, Chancellor Heaps has suggested a membership which encompasses both sports facilities at James College and the new pool at Heslington East may be likely: “The membership of the swimming club will be created similarly to York Sport membership.
“There will be a relationship between the two, although I don’t know exactly what that will be yet, but clearly there will be levels of membership that will entitle you to the facilities as they do now, which will include the swimming pool.
Similarly to the sports centre at James College, the public will be able to become members of the new health club.
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
Asfahani has also emphasised the long-term financial benefits of the swimming pool. The York Sport President said: “The pool will bring all our water sports back onto campus, saving a lot of money for water-based clubs. We’ll have the overriding stake in the pool, and as a result it will save us a lot of money.”
University figures show that there are 1500 students who are members of the David Lloyd gym near Hull Road, with the common main reason being because of its swimming facilities.
York University Student and Swimming Coach Jon Beardsley said: “It will be great the University finally has a pool, and there will definitely be less student members at David Lloyd. Hopefully this will also mean we have a stronger presence at British University and College Sports meets.”