PICTURES: New £8.1m leisure centre is worth the wait

Construction of the new purpose-built centre is set to be completed in September, with the facilities open to the public in late October.

Building work was delayed after a blaze tore through the derelict sports hall of the former centre in July last year.

Updated plans were put together which involved building a whole new centre from the ground up.

Thankfully, it is now nearing its finish date, much to the delight of Mr Eling. He said: "The old centre was beyond economic repair.What we've spent on this centre would've been spent patching up the old centre.

"It was a wise move to do a whole new facility and the feedback we've got is that the community appreciate what we're doing.

"The best things in life are worth waiting for."

Councillor Eling added: "The sports hall fire cost us a bit of time, but a centre like this takes at least a year to build.

"At the end of the day, having a brand new, high quality centre is going to be worth it."

When completed, the leisure centre in High Bullen will have a 25-metre swimming pool, a learner pool, two dance studios and a 100-station fitness suite.

It will be the fourth leisure site to open in the borough in the last two years, with the new £12.5m West Bromwich Leisure Centre having opened in June last year.

The £8m Tipton Leisure Centre opened in April 2013 as well Portway Lifestyle Centre, in Oldbury, which cost £18m.

Councillor Elaine Costigan added: "We're lucky this project is going ahead given the cuts we and other councils have had to face, so thanks go to the council for following this through.

"It's what residents want and they're looking forward to it opening."