Bid for new Dudley sports centre

Proposals have been submitted to Dudley Council for the new purpose-built centre and fitness suite at Ellowes Hall in Lower Gornal.

The college has agreed £100,000 of funding in principal from Sport England for the project, which would see a gymnastic centre built that could host major events.

It would be the new home for Dudley Gymnastics Club, which has 220 members – with the community able to use the new fitness room.

Gornal ward councillor Anne Millward, who used to attend the school, described the project as ‘a fabulous’ scheme.

She told the Express & Star: “I’ve been supporting the school on this and visited the gym club, which has got loads of members from all over the area.

“This would be absolutely brilliant for the school, the gym club and the community.

“The school has got the space for this and it’s a wonderful setting.

“I’m really pleased they’ve gone for this and it looks like it’s going to be wonderful.”

A design statement submitted as part of the planning package says: “The project is to build a dedicated gymnastics centre, with a fitness suite and cafe, on the Ellowes Hall Sports College school grounds.

“Dudley Gymnastics Club is already well established here with 220 members and 515 on the, now closed, waiting list.

“A dedicated facility, fully equipped, would enable the club to increase participation through improved time efficiency and increased access, including during the day for pre-school and school groups and later in the evening for adult groups.

"It would provide a greater range of equipment and a greater diversity of activities.

“Allowing club to effectively cater for those more experienced gymnastics looking for new challenges to progress on their performance pathway.

“Our proposed design enables the venue to host competitions.”

The potential Sport England funding has been agreed in principal, pending the school's ability to find a construction company willing to support the work.