Stalled Codsall gym plans are back on track

Stalled plans to build a new modern gym at a South Staffordshire leisure centre are moving forward more than two years after they were first announced – but the delay will cost the taxpayer £50,000.

The building at Codsall Leisure Centre will be bigger than its current fitness suite, and is expected to generate £41,000 a year for South Staffordshire Council. It will have a variety of cardiovascular equipment, such as treadmills, along with air conditioning.

But the increased cost of building supplies since the plans were first unveiled in 2010 has meant the cost has risen from £200,000 to £250,000.

Christine Humpherson, a leisure officer working on the plans, said there had been a delay but that this was because the council wanted to make the right decisions over the building.

She said the council need to ensure substations were able to handle the building's power needs and that neighbouring Codsall Community High School was happy with the location.

Mrs Humpherson added that the authority had been looking at whether to hand over running of Codsall Leisure Centre to a community trust but had decided against the idea because it was not considered for the good of the community.

She said: "The main reason we need the new gym is to increase capacity. At busy times we are turning people away from the current gym." She said the council was looking to complete the new fitness suite in time for it to open before the end of summer next year.

The current fitness suite would be transformed into a static cycling centre. Council officers have recommended that the authority's executive grant permission for the extra £50,000 of spending at its meeting next Tuesday.