Work starts on new multi-million Walsall leisure centre

Since the first sod of turf was cut in early February, builders have been hard at work at Oak Park Leisure Centre in Walsall Wood - one of two sports complexes being built in the borough.

It will include a 25-metre eight lane swimming pool, six-court sports hall, 100-station fitness suite, dance studio and two squash courts. There will also be a cafe, artificial turf pitch and car park.

ISG Construction is working with Walsall Council on the new centres at Oak Park and Bloxwich, which will both be open in the summer next year as part of a combined £24 million project.

The existing Oak Park centre remains open while the new one is being built but will be demolished when the work is complete.

In the past few weeks, passers-by have seen bulldozers and mechanical diggers moving around the site laying the foundations for the new centre.

Contractors have also been measuring up the site and marking out the perimeter.

The new centre at Bloxwich is being built immediately next to the old building. Due to the size of the site, the existing building needed to be demolished first to give the construction team full access.

The children's play area, which sits at the back of the existing leisure centre, is also being relocated within Leamore Park as part of the project.

Facilities at Bloxwich will include a 25-metre six lane swimming pool, teaching pool, sports hall, 100 station fitness suite, dance studio and cafe.

Walsall's leisure and culture chief, Councillor Khizar Hussain, said: "While it is very early days it is great that work on both new leisure centres is under way.

"The development of two new active living centres will provide a massive boost to health and wellbeing in Walsall and help to meet the council's aim of more people, more active, more often."

Work on the new leisure centre in Bloxwich started just before Christmas.