Old Willenhall Leisure Centre could become conference venue

Willenhall Leisure Centre was closed amid a raft of council cuts seven years ago, with bosses at the time saying that statistically, the Bath Street site had been the worst performing in the Walsall borough in terms of visitors numbers.

The centre was opened in 1938 and its redevelopment could see 10 full time and 30 part time jobs created.

In 2013, a planning application to extend the site and transform it into a banqueting suite was approved, however this never came to fruition. Now another company has put forward a similar application which will see the run-down site transformed into a venue for conferences and banquets.

The news has been welcomed by local councillor Carl Creaney, who represents the Willenhall South ward and said the site is currently a ‘target’ for vandals and poses an arson risk.

He said: “We as a council approved plans which are very similar to this latest planning application back in 2013 but nothing has happened, it is a bit of a mystery because myself and other local councillors just didn’t hear anything about what was going on.

“The period for work to start in relation to that application has now passed and I am pleased that we now have another application to look at it.

“This should have happened a long time ago but NNow hopefully we can see the old leisure centre transformed into a thriving site which could bring a bit of money to Willenhall. The site at the moment poses a risk of arson attacks, vandalism and anti-social behaviour. It is also an eyesore so anything that brings it back to life and back into use is something I would welcome.”

The latest application has been put forward by Millgate Associates., who have since acquired the building from its previous owner Raj Kumar

A statement from the company submitted to Walsall Council alongside the plans reads: “It will become apparent that these submitted proposals are substantially as were approved in the previous application.

“Those proposals have now lapsed and after discussion with the council, it was agreed that we should submit a new application.”

Prior to the sites closure campaigners claimed not enough was done to save the centre by council bosses, with those who fought for the future of the site hoping it would be brought back into use by a private firm.

The site had to be closed down earlier than planned after a metal theft left a gaping hole in the roof.