New construction of the Borkener indoor pool: Costs explode to 23.9 million!

New construction of the Borkener indoor pool: Costs explode to 23.9 million!

Westrandstraße 40, 34582 Borken, Deutschland - Planning for the new building of the indoor pool in Borken are currently still. The reason for this is a drastic increase in the estimated construction costs that have more than doubled in the past five years. If around twelve million euros were still estimated in October 2019, the need is now estimated at 23.9 million euros in July 2024. These costs should be taken into account by the city of Borken and the district, but the demolition costs of the old swimming pool and possible grants are not taken into account in these estimates.

The old indoor pool on Westrandstrasse was demolished in 2022. It had a long story, starting as a "centerpoint indoor pool" in a first version from 1964, at that time a showcase project for the rural region. However, the condition of the swimming pool was so bad that a renovation would have come more expensive than a new building. An application for one million euros in funding from the country's swim program was promised.

current state of planning and financial challenges

The topic recently was on the agenda in the district council when the CDU asked how the planning was. However, more information on the planned start of construction in 2025 remains unclear. In a written answer to the request of the CDU, it was announced that the commissioning of the approval planning is currently being suspended. It also remains unclear whether the district can provide additional funds, since this decision is ultimately at the district council.

In the households of the district for the years 2020 to 2023, 2.6 million euros have already been planned, of which 438,000 euros have been paid so far. However, the city of Borken faces further challenges, since the ongoing operating costs of the new indoor pool, which is to be completed by 2028, are estimated at least 592,000 euros annually. If the city concludes a contract with an energy supplier, the annual costs could even increase to around 713,000 euros.

These financial burdens are not only important for the city of Borken, but also for the entire district budget. The operating costs for other indoor pools in the area are already considerable, and increasing expenses are to be feared for the coming years. The district is expected to bear half of the operating costs for the Gudensberger indoor pool in 2025, and similar regulations are also provided for the other baths in the district. If everything runs according to plan, the entire operating costs for the indoor pools could reach around 1.4 million euros in 2027 if the new swimming pool in Borken is opened.

The uncertainties regarding further planning and financial burdens for the city and the district raise questions and give reason for discussion about the long -term load -bearing capacity of the new indoor pool. A deeper analysis on these developments, in particular on the financial aspects, could provide important information about the future approach; Details are at www.hna.de to read.