Dispute over the new Northeim indoor swimming pool: Where should it be built?

Dispute over the new Northeim indoor swimming pool: Where should it be built?

Things are boiling in Northeim: The debate about the future of the indoor swimming pool at the leisure lake is generating open letters and passionate discussions. A few days ago, representatives of various clubs and institutions wrote an open letter to the council and administration to clearly support the construction of a new indoor swimming pool at the inner-city location near the old Schuhwallhalle. The signatories include prominent personalities such asPetra Mittelstädt, the chairwoman of the city youth group, andHerve Lopez, second chairman of the triathlon department at SuS Northeim. You are not alone: ​​almost 30 clubs and educational institutions support this proposal.

In contrast to this is the FDP proposal to build the new indoor swimming pool on the eastern bank of the leisure lake. However, this idea has attracted many opponents, who point out in their open letter that alternative locations bring with them numerous ambiguities and that the city cannot afford a longer period without an indoor swimming pool. A signature campaign byWolfgang Gerlingwas initiated, was able to mobilize almost 300 supporters within a very short time. Gerling wants this as mayor next MondaySimon Hartmannhand over.

Criticism and support

Particularly critical comments are madethe left, which raises concerns about a new city bus route to the recreational lake. They accuse the FDP proposal of not being family-friendly and thus diluting its potential for a broad audience. Meanwhile, the city administration considers some aspects of the indoor swimming pool project to be promising and has already developed a concept for the development of the swimming pool location.

The background to this heated discussion is the dilapidated indoor swimming pool, which has been in operation since 1974 and now has massive structural defects. These problems arise in particular from the harmful formation of concrete cancer, which affects the load-bearing capacity of the building. HowMayor Hartmannconfirmed, the damage cannot be stopped. A feasibility study has shown that renovation is uneconomical; a new building is considered the only sensible option. In addition, the new pool will be designed as a “high-performance sports pool” and will meet the needs of both schools and clubs.

Future prospects

The proposal for the new building includes, among other things, six lanes suitable for competition, a diving facility and a partial lifting floor for aqua sports. In order to advance the decision on location and further development, the city administration is aiming for a political decision by summer 2025. Without early decisions, Northeim could be without an indoor swimming pool as early as 2029, which would have serious consequences for school and club sports.

In conclusion, it can be said that the current state of the swimming pool landscape both in Northeim and in Germany as a whole is increasingly becoming a reflection of the social challenges. Affordable housing, digital transformation and the need to deal with extreme weather events are the order of the day. The pools must position themselves as partners in municipal transformation processes in order to effectively address society's concerns. Whether and how this will succeed in Northeim will soon have to be seen when the city administration and politicians enter into the decisive negotiations.