Hartlepool Leisure Center Skips Sauna Due to Low Demand Survey Says

Some people asked about saunas at the new center. A petition wants them in Hartlepool’s new leisure center. It has almost 1,000 signatures already. They also asked why the old sauna never reopened.

A council member said they asked people about leisure plans before planning the new Highlight center. A 2019 survey ranked saunas low on the list, and a 2020 survey showed little demand for them.

The councilor stated that they focused on family activities and aimed to make income with the new facilities. Funding didn’t allow for a steam room or sauna due to low demand and high costs.

The decision came from analysis and feedback. They chose facilities meeting broader needs better. Adding a sauna now would cost a lot of money and could delay the whole project, he stated.

The old Mill House facilities were not very good. They reopened cautiously after Covid restrictions ended, but they were in poor condition, so people complained. The income was low, and maintenance was high too.

Fixing the old sauna would cost about £40,000, but they didn’t have money for that project. Highlight is developing, and Mill House won’t last forever. The council is happy to talk more about this.