£8m leisure centre honouring Tunisian terror attack Joel Richards opens to public
Fitness fanatics turned out to try the new equipment at Wednesbury Leisure Centre as the £8 million facility opened its doors to the public for the first time.
Members of the public had been given a sneak peek of the brand-new complex last week but had not been able to use the facilities until yesterday.
The centre's sports hall will be named after Joel Richards, the 19-year-old from Wednesbury who died in the Tunisian terror attack, alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, who worked for Sandwell Council, and grandfather Patrick Evans.
The new complex, which has been built on the site of the old centre on High Bullen, will also have a 25-metre pool, a learner pool and two dance studios, as well as a 100-station fitness suite.
Wednesbury councillor Elaine Costigan said she was delighted to see so many people eager to get inside.
She said: "There were 50 visitors in the first couple of hours, it was really busy with everyone on the bikes and in the swimming pool. People were queuing when I came out.
"It is great for Wednesbury and for Sandwell, it looks absolutely lovely. We are lucky really with all the cuts that it got the go-ahead. They could have said they would just do up the old one so I'm glad they made the decision to build a new centre."
While the centre is now up and running, a ceremony to mark its official opening and the naming of the Joel Richards Sports Hall will take place on December 9.
Councillor Costigan added: "Joel was such a sporty person, everybody was together on this. He will never be forgotten and it's wonderful that the council agreed to it."
