First glimpse at new £12m West Bromwich leisure centre
The workers in hard hats can just be made out as they are dwarfed by this huge shell that will one day be filled with water and transformed into Sandwell's latest leisure attraction.
Here is a first glimpse of West Bromwich's new £12.5 million leisure centre – and the shell of the 25-metre swimming pool that will become its centrepiece.
Workmen are putting the final touches to the striking red, curved façade and glass-panelled entrance hall as the spacious swimming pool and its seated area takes shape.
When it opens to the public in June, the centre in Moor Street will boast a six-lane swimming pool, as well as a learner pool with an adjustable floor that can be raised or lowered, meaning it can be used by those of all ages and ability.
There will also be two multi-purpose studios, a four-court sports hall, sauna and steam room, a 100 station fitness suite, a cafe and a children's adventure play area.
The centre is expected to welcome around 600,000 visitors a year, with 100 jobs being created.
Although the centre is being built by Sandwell Council, it will be run by Places for People Leisure Ltd, meaning there will be no ongoing revenue costs for the authority as it struggles to save £120m from its budget.
The council's finance boss Councillor Steve Eling said: "We've given a long-term commitment to West Bromwich on a new leisure centre, and it actually won't require any council taxpayer subsidy – it will be self financing.
"We will set the charges for the swimming, so those will be the same as all of the other leisure centres, but Places for People will set the charges for the dance studio, sauna, sports hall and the rest, and they will need to be competitive with the rest of the market.
"We are funding the capital for it, but there's no revenue running cost for the council."
An underspend of £300,000 has actually been predicted for the leisure centre, with that money being pumped into a separate leisure scheme in Wednesbury.
An information marketing suite has now been opened on the site in West Bromwich where people can ask questions and join the centre, and the council is hoping to get as many people signed up as possible ahead of the summer.
Peter Kirkham, development director for Places for People Leisure Ltd, said: "We are confident that West Bromwich Leisure Centre will add real social value to the area and is on schedule to open early in the summer.
"The information office is now open on the site and our staff are available to answer any enquiries."
As part of a drive for new members, Places for People is offering the chance to win a three-month membership in a free prize draw, and the council is also offering 100 free day passes.
Councillor Paul Moore, in charge of health and wellbeing, said: "I want to give Sandwell residents the opportunity to try out the new facilities so they can see what they will get for their money first hand."
As well as the new leisure centres in West Bromwich and Wednesbury, two state-of-the-art facilities have also been built and opened in Tipton and Oldbury.
Last year the £8m pool on Alexandra Road in Tipton was opened, as was the £18m Portway Lifestyle Centre, on Newbury Lane in Oldbury. Facilities at Portway include a sports hall, hydrotherapy pool, gym and weight area.
Meanwhile, a former housing office in Smethwick is to be taken over by Sandwell Leisure Trust, the council's leisure arm, under £35,000 revamp plans.
The trust is investing the cash to turn the old Bearwood Housing Office in Smethwick into a new dance studio for neighbouring Smethwick Swimming Centre, in a bid to cope with the demand for classes.
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