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Two of Wigan Borough’s most important
sports facilities are to boosted by a significant pre-Christmas cash
injection.
Wigan Council’s ruling cabinet has approved the release of around
£270,000 worth of funds to be invested in Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s sports facilities in the east of the borough. The money is from
the capital received following the sale of Atherton Baths site.
A significant proportion of the sum will be spent on making huge
improvements to Howe Bridge Sports Centre, with the remainder
contributing to the purchase of sports equipment for the new sports
centre and swimming pool currently being built at Leigh Sports Village.
Wigan Council Leader, Peter Smith, said, "The original decision to close
Atherton Baths wasn't taken lightly, but we always promised that the
proceeds from the sale would be reinvested in sports facilities. The
cabinet was very happy to fulfil that pledge, by agreeing to Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust putting the money from the sale of the
building towards improving facilities at Howe Bridge, and the new public
sports centre at Leigh Sports Village. This way, the residents of
Atherton will benefit from the sale of a local asset and it's a good
example of the Council and the Trust working in partnership.”
The £215,000 refurbishment of Howe Bridge Sport Centre’s changing
facilities will begin on Monday 11th December and will include:
• new male and female disabled changing rooms;
• family and group changing facilities;
• improved shower facilities;
• vanity facilities including hairdryers and shaving points;
• new ceilings, lighting and decoration;
• and improved flooring throughout the changing rooms.
Martin Eden, WLCT’s Executive Director for Sport and Healthy Living,
said, “Howe Bridge is the busiest pool in the borough, with over 200,000
swim visits annually, and we wanted to upgrade the changing facilities
to improve the experience for our customers. We have invested heavily in
the Profiles gym recently and so it is important that we brought the
changing facilities up to the required standard. There will be some
disruption for our regular customers, but the long term benefit is that
the changing facilities will be vastly improved.”
Howe Bridge Sports Centre will remain open while work takes place on
site, however the swimming pool and changing rooms will close for three
short periods during the refurbishment programme:
• Monday 8th to Wednesday 10th January
• Monday 12th to Friday 16th February
• Monday 2nd to Friday 6th April
The refurbishment is due to be completed in April 2007. For further
details, please contact Howe Bridge Sports Centre on 01942 870403.
The remaining £55,000 from the approved spend, will be put towards the
cost of providing excellent equipment for the new public sports centre
and pool at Leigh Sports Village.
The £6.4m Leigh Indoor Sports Centre at Leigh Sports Village, due to
open in July 2007, is being funded by Greenbank Partnership, Wigan
Council and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust. For further information
contact 01942 893697.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this news release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or
at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
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