A major £5million project to replace aging gas boilers with a new renewable heating system means The Pulse leisure centre in Dursley will close for one week from 30 October to 6 November.
The cutting-edge green technology will use outside air and recycled heat from the changing rooms and swimming pool as heating, boosted by additional solar panels.
The difficult decision of when best to close a leisure centre that is used and loved by the community has been carefully considered by all involved. Shutting during the half term week means that school swimming lessons and all the exercise programmes that take place during the term time, will not be disrupted.
Alternative swimming, gym and fitness sessions will be available at Stratford Park Leisure Centre in Stroud.
The new system will save hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions every year and is a key part of Stroud District Council’s pledge to do everything in its power to ensure the district becomes carbon neutral by 2030.
Three Stroud District Council owned sites will benefit from the project: The Pulse, Stratford Park Leisure Centre, and the Museum in the Park in Stroud.
Cllr Beki Aldam, chair of SDC Community Services & Licensing Committee explained: “While most of the work is taking place behind the scenes with no impact on users, each site will close to the public for a short time.
“We know how much people value The Pulse which is why it is closing for as short a time as possible. They can be assured that we are investing in the future of our leisure facilities at a time when public swimming pools across the country are facing financial difficulties.”
During the closure the main transformer at the Pulse will be replaced, and the new heat pumps will be tested before the heating is switched over to the new system and the gas boilers decommissioned.
At the same time the changing rooms will be re-tiled, and improvements made to the Castle Street car park, so fewer spaces will be available than usual while the work takes place. Alternative free-of-charge parking is available at in May Lane, Silver Street and Long Street.
Bus 65 (Stagecoach) and 65a (Cotswold Green) go to Stroud via Uley and Nympsfield, Monday to Saturday; there’s more information and links here.
The Pulse members who pay by Direct Debit will have a reduction in payment for one month (November 2023) and pre-paid members will have a week added to the end of their contract.
Vice chair Cllr Trevor Hall said:
“This project achieves a number of objectives in our Council Plan and 2030 Strategy: to be a carbon neutral and ecologically sound district by 2030 and invest in our leisure provision to make it fit for the future.”
The work is initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and is delivered by Salix Finance and SDC and is being carried out by Stonehouse-based company, Cotswold Energy Group.
More information about the project is available on the Stroud District Council website.
Details of the Stratford Park and Museum in the Park closures will be announced once confirmed.
If you have any queries about the closure of the Pulse, please get in touch with a member of the team at hello@pulsedursley.co.uk
