Walsall leisure site building beginning to take shape
Work is forging ahead on a new Walsall leisure centre as the steel skeleton of the new building takes shape.
Construction company ISG took over the site in Bloxwich at the beginning of this year to build the multi-million pound new centre.
The main 25 metre pool and learner pools have been dug out, reinforcing steel installed and the concrete bases poured. The pool walls are due to be built this week.
The leisure centre, which is being built immediately next to the site of the old building, will have a 25 metre six lane swimming pool, teaching pool, sports hall, 100 station fitness suite, dance studio and cafe.
Walsall's leisure chief, Councillor Khizar Hussain, said work on the project was progressing very well. He said: "A lot of hard work has gone into the £24 million project, which reflects major investment from the council in partnership with Sport England.
"These two new buildings will transform leisure provision in Walsall and I'm sure help achieve our stated aim of more people, more active, more often.
"At Bloxwich, all major ground works are now complete and we've put up around 50 per cent of the steel frame along with the concrete lift shifts."
He said work on a second new leisure centre at Oak Park, in Walsall Wood, was also progressing well.
Councillor Hussain added: "At Oak Park, ground works are nearing completion and the lift shafts were installed earlier this month. We've almost completed the new car park with the top layer of Tarmac set to be finalised next week."
When completed, the new leisure centre will also boast a 25m pool, 100 station fitness suite, two squash courts, cafe and an artificial turf pitch.
The existing Oak Park building will remain open throughout the project and will be demolished once work is complete.
Both centres are on course to be completed next summer.
The new centre at Bloxwich is being built immediately next to the site of 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.
