Was annoyed this week went into a local shop and was approached by a local resident who was upset that I had given the Hendy Pool money away to the Olympic bid.

 

For the record the money has not been given away the committee still has money that we worked hard to raise last year.

 

There were fliers distributed through the doors of villagers inviting locals to attend the AGM if they wanted to know whats happening with the pool campaign. So for people to start malicious rumours about this annoyed me and other members of the committee.

 

For the record we have just put out a request for invites for a feasibilty study. A study is one of the requests from large grant fund sources, so we are working on trying to save the pool and park in the village

 

below are the guidelines sent out to the counsultants to ask for tenders for the study.

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Background & Context

 

Hendy Village lies within the County of Carmarthenshire, neighboring Llangennech (also Carmarthenshire) and Pontarddulais, which falls within the perimeters of Swansea City Council. These three villages are situated just off Junction 48 of the M4 motorway and have a collective population of approximately 12,500 (2001 sensus). However, all three villages have seen significant development (new housing) over the past ten years, increasing its population. This growth has not been matched by increased provision of recreational facilities.

 

Hendy has an outdoor Pool, which was built and run by volunteers in 1932 and has been providing the local community with a place for people of all ages to play and socialize in the summer months.  In 1983 the volunteers donated the pool to the Llanelli Borough Council, which ran and maintained it for the community and installed a set of changing rooms. In 1999 the newly formed Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) stated that they felt the pool was uneconomical and wanted to close it. This was met by fierce public opposition and the Hendy Pool Committee (HPC) was formed, who ran the pool in a voluntary capacity, under a formal leasing arrangement with a £7k grant from CCC per year from their Leisure budget for three months each year. Over the years, the Pool was well used and the center of Village recreation, particularly during the summer months.

 

Under the stewardship of CCC, the condition of the Pool gradually deteriorated until, in 2002 it was closed.

 

Following a number of reports commissioned by CCC, it has become clear that the Pool is beyond economic repair, and CCC has proposed demolishing the Pool and, subject to available finance, constructing a new Park with updated facilities, but excluding an outdoor pool.

 

In 2005, an open public meeting was called and attended by over 200 local people. The HPC was re-formed and have been fundraising and lobbying vigorously for the pool to be refurbished and re-opened by CCC, including gathering a petition with over 2,800 names. The group meets monthly and has approximately 25 members, these meetings normally attracts a dozen members.

 

HPC is also in the process of applying to become a Registered Charity.

 

In December 2006, CCC confirmed that they would not refurbish the pool and that unless the group took the pool on and applied to grants for its refurbishment, CCC would fill it in with concrete. CCC offered the pool to the group under a peppercorn lease agreement, with an additional offer to take on the surrounding park area also. 

 

HPC now face the decision whether they should take on the Pool and/or park area and they are therefore inviting tenders from suitably experienced Consultants to carry out a Feasibility Study and Business Plan Preparation for a new Community amenity at Hendy Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project

 

 

The HPC are currently undecided as to whether they should accept the offer by CCC to take the lease of the pool and/or park area for a peppercorn rent of £1 and the associated running costs, maintenance, responsibility and liability issues. Moreover, HPC are unsure as to whether the re-opening of the pool would be economically viable, sustainable (economically, socially, and environmentally) and whether it is the best use of the space for the local community.

 

Despite great public support for the re-opening of the Pool, and the emotional ties to it as a piece of local history and tradition in the summer months, the group do recognize that there may be issues of sustainability in regards to the running costs, maintenance and volunteer commitment over a long period of time.  They also recognize that the site might be better used for an alternative leisure amenity and above all else want the pool/park area to be re-developed into a space where young and old can play and enjoy.

 

It is for this reason that the group wishes an independent party to assess the viability of re-opening the pool and possible alternative options to the site.

 

Current Situation

 

A structural survey has already been commissioned by CCC, whereby the contractor (Mott McDonald) estimated the cost of refurbishment to be approximately £250,000 this was in contrast to a local builder’s estimate which stood informally at £125,875. However both contractors were working to different specifications.

 

It is also worth noting that a community survey was carried out by Foothold Community Specialists and completed in 2000 regarding the pool, a copy of which will be available to the chosen consultant.

 

Furthermore, over the past year the group has seen a drop in morale and numbers within the group, as the aim of the group has shifted from being a lobbying group to one who is investigating the potential in taking on responsibility of the pool and/or park area as a community amenity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Objectives of the Study

 

The principal objective of this Study is to identify a Facility/Project which:

 

            •           has the support of the whole Community;

            •           can generate sufficient funding to enable its construction;

            •           can generate sufficient revenue to ensure its long-term success; and

            •           is sustainable.

 

Whilst the HPC’s preferred option would be the construction of a new outdoor pool, it understands that Consultants must look at other possibilities.  Without wishing to influence Consultants in the identification of suitable projects for consideration, the following is a list of potential projects:

 

-                      a new outdoor pool  

-                      a new indoor pool

-                      a new water-based leisure facility

-                      a multi-use building housing recreational and educational facilities

-                      an outdoor sporting facility/ surfaces

 

 

 

Scope of the Study

 

            •           To meet with the HPC, CCC and Llanedi Community Council to assess all views                             and requirements for the Study;        

•           To engage with the Community, possibly via public meetings, a village survey and public consultation exercise (as previously stated tender’s should note that a Village Survey was undertaken in 2000 and the results of this will be made available to the successful company);

            •           To carry out sufficient research and investigation into the available options for the                            project, establish the likely market and prepare a budget costing and benefit                                  analysis;

            •           To identify a preferred option,

            •           To prepare a Business Plan which can be used to assess the viability of the                                   project, will identify possible sources of funding, can be used for fund-raising, will                                 identify a basic marketing strategy and will identify management, staffing and                                    maintenance issues to ensure the continued use and development of the facility                                   and its long-term sustainability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management of the Contract

 

The organizations overall contact for this project will be:

 

Steve Lloyd-Janes

 

E-mail:slloydjanes@aol.com

 

Reporting Requirements

 

Tenderers should note that a period of 18 weeks has been allowed for the completion of the commission.  A copy of the Draft Final Feasibility report shall be made available to representatives of the HPC at the end of Week 15. The final draft must be made available at the end of week 18, in addition to a public presentation of findings, which will be open to the whole community.

 

Regular meetings will be held with representatives of the HPC, normally at fortnightly intervals, but their frequency may be varied depending on progress.

 

Six copies of the Final Report will be provided to the Client, together with an electronic version to an agreed format.

 

No additional work is to be undertaken without prior agreement with the client.

 

Submission of your Bid

 

A written bid submission by the consultant to HPC is required. All communication is to be addressed to Steve Lloyd-Janes (Secretary) on the address above.

 

The bid should include a creative response to the brief and a proposed methodology indicating how the brief will be interpreted and fulfilled. Details of the proposed team should be included, profiling relevant experience and track record.  A shortlist of submissions will then be selected and successful short-listed bidders may be invited to an interview with the Hendy Pool Committee.

 

Submissions should provide a fixed lump sum fee inclusive of all expenses and subcontracting costs and but will exclude VAT. The consultant should be made aware that the HPC are working to a budget of £15,000.

 

Submissions should be received by midday on the 15^th June 2007.

 

Tenderers should note that the HPC is not obliged to accept the lowest or any tender.

 

Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of cost (⅓) and quality/ response to brief (⅔).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments

 

Fees will be paid as follows

 

Appointment                                                                              40%

 

Draft Report                                                                               40%

 

Final Report and presentation to an open public meeting               20%

 

 

Planned Timetable

 

Tenderers should not that a period of 18 weeks has been allocated for the completion of the work. However, the start date will depend on successful grant funding which is in the process of being secured.

 

Conditions

 

The consultant is required to provide professional indemnity insurance.

 

Completion of this project will not exclude the consultant from bidding for subsequent work on the project, acting as a third party on behalf of the group or undertaking further studies on behalf of HPC.

 

The consultant is required to maintain the client’s confidentiality. The copyright of all documents and illustrations provided will be the property of HPC. HPC will acknowledge the consultant in any publication of the study.

 

The final report will be the property of HPC.

 

Termination

 

Employment of the consultant may be terminated by the client in the event of unsatisfactory performance. In this event, payment of all fees and expenses to the date of the termination will apply, the sum being appropriate to the quality and extent of the output provided.

 

Conflict of Interests

 

All bidders should declare in their bid any conflict of interest that might arise if they are working on similar projects in the area. The consultant shall inform the client of any likely conflict of interest arising from past or current commissions with other clients.                                                                       

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Last night I did my last day as a stand down re[ for the union, twelve weeks actually flew, i went into Tesco Carmarthen and i was quite pleased with the results got 7 definates and a few more maybes. One of the REPS instore was aware of the maybes, had i had a little more time might have got them to signed up, but i was chatting to them just before they had to start work and they all worked on checkouts.

Staff were waiting for them to relieve them so they could go home and there was a manager on their break in the canteen at the time, so i couldn't extend my chat as it would have been unfair to those that had been sitting on the checkouts waiting to go home.

In all i enjoyed my twelve weeks on the road met lots of old friends and new ones and i'm looking forward to the next time.