Bedford Borough Council is preparing to take an Executive decision later this month on the future of the former Oasis swimming pool site.
Last week’s Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (15 January) heard that only one bid met the required bidding standards.
Head of leisure and culture, Tom Perrett, said the council instructed Colliers Solicitors to act as property advisers in August 2025.
“The marketing commenced in September 2025, and the deadline for receipt of offers was the end of October,” he said.
“That resulted in 28 inquiries, seven formal expressions of interest, six viewings were arranged, and that culminated in the receipt of five full offers in relation to the site and a further two incomplete proposals.”
Read: Bedford Borough Council pleased with response to Oasis Beach Pool sale
Bids were assessed on financial viability, deliverability, community use and sustainability.
A scoring matrix showed one proposal clearly ahead of others, and officers confirmed this preferred bidder is now being taken forward to final negotiations.
Only having one preferred offer concerned committee members.
Cllr Jonathan Abbott (Lib Dem, Clapham and Oakley) said he would have liked to have seen two or three bids that were close.
Conservative cllr Graeme Coombes (Wixams and Wilstead) suggested that the council is in a “take it or leave it” situation.
“Can you tell the committee that you’re satisfied that the one person that seems to have got through this system qualified is going to be able to give this council maximum value for money?” he asked officers.
Paul Pace, the council’s director for public realm, highways and waste management, said: “We feel that is good value for the council.”
Concerns were also raised about community access to leisure provision in South Bedford and Kingsbrook, described as “one of the more deprived parts of Bedford borough.”
Read: Oasis Beach Pool site up for sale after controversial closure plan
Cllr Abbott asked whether community use had been compromised.
Mr Perrett replied: “That still is in discussion… being addressed through the decision that’s coming for approval.”
Councillors also sought assurances that future non-leisure commercial development would be prevented.
Cllr Charles Royden (Lib Dem, Brickhill) asked, “Is there going to be a covenant or some kind of agreement that’s legally watertight that it can only be used for leisure facilities, and something that binds them into the them being available with the community?”
Mr Perrett confirmed they would be “capturing that in the permitted use clause within the heads of terms”.
The executive decision is expected later this month.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
