Climbing high at Oldbury health centre as new £18m project opens next week
These pictures show how a long-awaited new £18 million leisure and health centre in Oldbury which opens its doors on Monday looks.
Portway Lifestyle Centre will bring together leisure, sport and health services and create 12 jobs.
The Express & Star has been given a look inside the site as special preview tours were held ahead of its opening.
The site in Newbury Lane opened its doors yesterday to show residents around ahead of its official launch later this week, and opening on September 23.
The eye-catching centre brings together leisure, health and social care under one roof and includes a GP surgery and Portway Family Practice, which will replace the Tividale Family Practice.
One nearby resident who was at yesterday's preview tour was accountant Sharon Poole, 44, who lives on Portway Hill. Mrs Poole has already cancelled her gym membership nearby and is looking forward to using the new centre when it opens.
She said: "It is within walking distance from where I live. I have been a member at a gym for a couple of years and the equipment is going down and down in quality and this is ideal. It's a third of the price I am paying, I'm just so impressed."
Councillor Steve Eling, Sandwell Council deputy leader, added: "This is the second new leisure facility to be opened in Sandwell this year. Portway will make extra provision for people with disabilities and that will make it a national exemplar."
Portway Lifestyle Centre was aided by a £1.5m grant from Sport England.
