REVEALED: Plans for new £30m leisure centre in Carlton submitted by council

An artist's impression of the new leisure centre

Designs for Carlton’s incoming brand-new leisure centre have been submitted.

Gedling Borough Council wants the Carlton Active centre to be built on land off Foxhill Road, where the Richard Herrod Centre currently stands.

That leisure centre has served the community for decades, housing a dry ski slope between the 1960s and 1990s and acting as the home of Gedling Indoor Bowls club from 1987 until 2026.

It closed its doors at the start of May this year, following the bowl club’s lease expiring, and to make way for the council’s nearly £30 million replacement building.

The Carlton Active project involves demolishing the Richard Herrod and the Carlton Forum site, deemed “not fit for purpose”, where the authority submitted formal plans outlining its intention to knock down the building around mid July.

Planning documents say the new building would have a smaller footprint than the current centre and would be built further south on the site.

Detailed drawings reveal that the ground floor will include an eight-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, changing rooms, a café, a soft play area, a community room, and a studio with power-assisted equipment and toilets.

The first floor would house a gym, two studios, changing and toilet facilities, and the viewing area for the pool.

Gedling Borough Council has been criticised for its decision not to include an indoor bowls facility in the Carlton Active project, despite it having been originally considered in the proposals.

It meant the 300-member-strong Gedling Indoor Bowls Club was effectively displaced from the end of April, with no solid alternative location to move into.

Those involved have previously expressed concern for the health and well-being of club members, many of whom are older, fearing some could be left “isolated”.

Ian Summerscales, a director at the club, previously said that the lowest-priced relocation option would have cost between £2 million and £3 million to take over an industrial unit, refurbish it, and cover bills.

Current planning documents for the project say that the construction costs of including an indoor bowls hall in such plans are “substantial,” as it requires a site with clear spans, high ceilings, and environmental controls. 

Documents say: “When assessed alongside the overall project budget, the addition of a 3-rink, 4-rink or 6-rink facility would result in a level of cost that would render the scheme unaffordable and place the wider development at financial risk.”

Councillor Henry Wheeler (Lab), portfolio holder for lifestyles, health and wellbeing, previously told the authority’s cabinet that a six-rink bowls facility in the plans would add between £5.6 million to £7.7 million to capital costs, leaving the council a subsidy of around £500,000 a year.

Opposition councillor, Sam Smith (Con) said in July the project was a “complete white elephant” and criticised the authority for pushing ahead with the plans despite Local Government Reorganisation happening in the county, which will involve two new unitary authorities being created, including one which will now include Nottingham and parts of Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe and the other containing the rest of the county.

Cllr Smith said: “It is beyond ridiculous that the taxpayers of Gedling borough are being lumbered with a loan of £30 million to build a new leisure centre where the keys are going to be handed over to Nottingham City Council.

“The Carlton Active project is a complete white elephant. £30 million of debt the new council will be lumbered with, and it’s a new centre that doesn’t deliver everything the residents want.”

He called for the Labour-run Gedling council to “slam the brakes” on the project and let the new unitary authority take over, adding: “They’re gambling with residents’ money.

Councillors won’t be there to answer for it because it will be a new authority.”

Gedling Borough Council previously said more than £2m in backlog works were required for the two existing leisure centres, which, along with a £545,000 yearly subsidy, made them “unsustainable in their current form”.

The new Carlton Active building will have 154 parking spaces,  15 motorbike spaces, and 81 bicycle spaces.

The goal is to start demolishing the Richard Herrod Centre on September 28, 2026, with completion expected in either November or December.

By Lauren Monaghan (Local Democracy Reporter)

Police continue to make progress as latest figures show drop in crime across the borough

Gedling borough policing teams, working closely with residents, businesses and partner agencies, say they are making good progress in bringing crime down across the borough.

The latest crime figures for the borough show a 13.9% drop in acquisitive crime during July, with several key offences falling significantly:

• Shoplifting down 14.6%
• Robbery down 27.8%
• Thefts from motor vehicles down 37.5%

Police say the reductions are the result of ongoing enforcement activity by local officers, combined with strong partnership working across the community.

But despite the positive trend, some challenges remain. Police say commercial burglaries have risen following a linked series of offences that detectives are continuing to investigate.

How you can help protect your vehicle

Police are urging residents and business owners to take simple steps to reduce the risk of vehicle crime:

• Always lock vehicles and remove keys, even when parked at home
• Use security devices such as steering locks, wheel clamps or trackers
• Remove tools, equipment and valuables from vehicles overnight
• Park in secure, well-lit areas whenever possible
• Make sure premises are protected by effective CCTV and alarm systems
• Report suspicious activity to police as soon as possible

Officers say community vigilance remains a key factor in preventing crime and keeping neighbourhoods safe.

BACK IN THE DAY: A railway worker was left seriously injured after being attacked by Netherfield man who blamed him for getting the sack

We publish a paid-for newsletter twice a week looking at what life was like in the past across Gedling borough.

Our latest edition on Wednesday featured this story from the archive. If you want to receive our newsletter packed full of archive pictures, stories and features, then subscribe for £3 a month HERE

A Netherfield man said he assaulted a chief clark at Colwick Loco because he blamed him for getting the sack from work.

The June 5, 1926 edition of the The Nottingham Advertiser reported on June 5, the court appearance of Harry Edward Smalley of Netherfield following an alleged attack on George William Little, an L.N.E.R. railway official at Colwick.

Smalley, aged 20, of 144, Curzon Street, Netherfield, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to George William Little, living in Wordsworth Road, West Bridgford.

Police-Sergeant Scoffield told the magistrates that at 1.45 p.m. the previous day he was called to the L.N.E.R. traffic office at Colwick, and there saw the prisoner, who had been detained. He cautioned the prisoner, and told him he was suspected of having attacked Little. Smalley denied knowing anything about the matter, and he was taken to the Carlton Police Station and detained for further inquiries to be made. About two hours later prisoner remarked to witness: "I wish to make a statement, and tell the truth." He asked witness to write his statement down, and said:

"While standing in Victoria Road, Netherfield, on Friday, May 28, about 10 o'clock, I saw Mr. Little, whom I knew well as the chief clerk in the L.N.E.R. offices. He was with another man carrying a bag. As soon as I saw Mr. Little it reminded me that he was the cause of getting me the sack from the railway where I was formerly employed as a caller-up. I understood he had told someone I had had a lot of illness, and it would not be wise for the doctor to pass me, and I was rejected.

"I have nursed this grievance ever since, about a year ago. I almost went for him on Victoria Road, but thought I would wait till about one o'clock, when I knew he would be on his own at his office at Colwick.

"I went home, and it was preying on my mind, and I could eat only half my dinner.

"I got up from the table and went to the coalhouse, and took my dad's set-stick (a short wooden tool used for gardening, and resembling the handle of a spade). I put it in my inside coat pocket, and then went to the office where Little was at work. I waited for some time, and watched workmen come and go. I then went into the lobby and took away the weight which propped the door open. I listened, and heard someone cough, and knew it was Little. I put a handkerchief round the bottom part of my face, and knocked at the door. This was not answered, and I knocked again, when Mr. Little came out. I struck him on the head three times with the set-stick, and Little fell on the ground. I then threw the stick at him and ran off."

The prisoner signed this statement after being cautioned by P.S. Scoffield. He was then conveyed to the Nottingham Shire Hall.

Superintendent Rodgers said it was a dastardly attack, and Mr. Little was in a serious condition at the Nottingham General Hospital, and not yet in a fit state to be interviewed. He asked for a remand, and objected to bail being granted.

The prisoner had nothing to say, and he was remanded in custody.

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