Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported the EXPO. It was encouraging that a total of over 1300 local residents, including young people, attended and made their views known. Thanks, too, to all the many volunteers who helped to make it such a successful event.

The Three Rivers Partnership set out their plans for the development of the Leisure and Community facilities in Gillingham at the Town Hall over the weekend of 28/30th September 2007.

A key objective was to assess the level of local support for the Partnership to pursue options for developing a new leisure centre in the town. A range of options was presented, and, as far as possible at this stage, the likely costs and the level of financial support needed was set out for each. This meant estimated capital costs (to be met from existing funds set aside, sponsors and partners) – and operating costs, and the estimated level of support from local council tax for the facility to break even.

The more expensive proposals, which would include a new swimming pool, are clearly ambitious for an area with Gillingham’s population, and there are few precedents for community-sponsored projects of this sort to learn from. But the partnership is determined that if there is strong enough local mandate, every effort should be made to bring modern leisure and community facilities to Gillingham and the surrounding area.

Funding difficulties are made worse by Government raids on lottery funds to prop up the 2012 Olympics, and by the parlous state of North Dorset District Council (NDDC’s) own finances.

The Expo also asked views on whether local council tax support should be provided for services being withdrawn by NDDC – notably street cleaning and public toilets.

The full content of both the Roadshow and the Expo are available from this website.

Results:

1. Services being withdrawn by NDDC at the end of March 2008, i.e. street cleaning and public toilet:
   • An overwhelming majority agreed to the proposition that Gillingham Town Council should take over these services.
2. On the Leisure Centre options:
   • It is clear that the vast majority of residents who engaged with the Expo information have indicated that they are prepared to accept an increase in their Council Tax to offset the inevitable deficit involved in running a swimming pool.
     The options were to include either a 4 lane 20 metre pool, or a 6 lane 25 metre pool.
     The overwhelming majority of swimmers and non-swimmers chose the 6 lane option.
3. Open Spaces – North Dorset District Council's Local Delivery transfer of land to communities
   • There is a clear majority wish for negotiations with NDDC to continue and Three Rivers to employ a person to manage those areas in and around Gillingham.
   • Three Rivers Partnership has set up a Land Trust to receive the proposed ownership of land, which will keep them in community ownership in perpetuity and protected from development.
   • Painstaking research work has been undertaken by our forensic accountant, the report is expected soon, and full details will be in our next Newsletter and soon here on the website.

   Next Steps

   We now know that people are prepared to pay for the running of the project.

   1. To supplement the £4 million from North Dorset District Council a further £10 million is needed for building costs. We need to appoint professionals to determine whether the money is out there and accessible to us.
   2. Assuming it is shown the project is achievable, then 3RP will employ a high-calibre full-time professional fundraiser, and at that point will establish a permanent office and take on someone for administrative support.
   3. We are following up with the other market towns and villages who are critical to the success of this venture.
   4. We will continue our fortnightly meetings with senior members of NDDC to ensure everything is managed in the best possible way.
   5. Volunteers – All interested groups will work together to achieve a successful outcome as quickly as possible. Three Rivers will help coordinate voluntary help for all that needs to be done, in particular local fundraising events. Skills of all kinds will be required and we are grateful to all those who have already offered their services. We will be in touch with you soon to put those skills to good use!