£14m scheme will refit leisure centres in Walsall
AN eight-lane swimming pool, health spa and huge sports hall will be created in Walsall in a £14 million revamp of leisure services, it was revealed today.
The project is part of an overall vision to bring leisure services in the borough into the 21st century.
Millions of pounds are being ploughed into creating new Oak Park and Bloxwich leisure centres.
Outline plans for both developments have been drawn up and will be presented to Walsall Council's cabinet for consideration next Wednesday.
The transformation of leisure services is being carried out after the borough's current centres were branded "ageing and unattractive".
Leisure bosses say the plans for Oak Park Leisure Centre, off Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, will bring it into the 21st century.
It will boast an eight-lane 25m swimming pool, a teaching pool with moving floor, a sports hall, the size of six badminton courts, a fitness suite, health spa, dance studio and catering facilities. The existing artificial football pitch would also be upgraded.
Urged
The plans are on show from now until October 28 at the centre and people living nearby are being urged to have their say.
Walsall leisure boss, Councillor Anthony Harris, said: "Walsall's leisure centres are generally not in good condition.
"We accept that they're ageing, unattractive and poorly designed compared to current standards and will become increasingly costly to manage.
"From our research we know the best way to encourage more people to take up some form of physical activity is to improve our leisure centre facilities and ensure they're of good quality, well designed and attractive."
