Ref: tn_12607
Date: 4th September 2007

Leigh Indoor Sports Centre Opening Delayed

The opening of Leigh Indoor Sports Centre, part of the £83m Leigh Sports Village development, has been delayed.

The sports centre was planned to be open to the public in August. However, due to unforeseen problems with the connection of utility services and the adverse weather conditions this summer, construction efforts have been significantly hampered.

The £6.4m sports centre, funded by Greenbank Partnership, Wigan Council and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, will now fully open to the public on Wednesday 2nd January 2008. However, the Trust, who will manage the facility as part of their portfolio of Active Life centres, are hoping to open the centre for gym users only during December.

The final utilities connection was made last week and final construction work has now commenced and is due to be completed by early November. The site will then be formally handed over to Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust for a full equipment fit out and final staff training.

Simon Toon, Chief Executive of Leigh Sports Village Company, said: "The delays at the Village have been extremely frustrating for all involved, however these short term teething problems will be out weighed by the massive long term benefits that LSV will have for the community as a whole. Leigh Indoor Sports Centre is a fantastic state of the art facility and we are excited that it will be a major part of the Village."

Mike Woodruff, Centre Manager for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “We are delighted that we now have a firm date in place to open the centre. Although it has been a frustrating time for all concerned we are confident that we will have a facility that everyone can be proud of. Unfortunately the delay has been out of our hands we have had our staff structure in place for some time and we are very eager to get the centre up and running.”

“We have been working hard with local sports clubs and societies to give everyone an opportunity to use these facilities. We would like to thank them, and in particular Leigh Sixth Form College, for their support and patience. The activity programme for the centre is exciting and varied, providing a range of sports that everyone living in Leigh will have the opportunity to enjoy.”

Gym membership sales will commence in October from a temporary office based at Leigh Sixth Form College. The special introductory offer of £60 for four months memberships (includes free induction and swimming) will still be honoured. This offer will now run from January 2008 through to 31st April 2008. As an extra incentive, if the gym facility opens in December as planned, members will get the extra usage for free.

Leigh Indoor Sports Centre includes:
• Swimming pool – a 25m, six-lane pool suitable for regional galas with spectator seating for 190 people;
• Sports hall – consisting of eight courts, can be used for badminton, basketball, netball and volleyball with seating for up to 280 people;
• Profiles Health and Fitness Suite – a 65 work station gym with weight resistance and cardiovascular equipment;
• Multi-purpose room – will provide a range of aerobic sessions and martial arts activities for up to 40 people;
• Aerobics suite – ideal for aerobic work-outs and suitable for all ages and abilities;
• Changing room village – a series of individual changing areas complemented by six additional changing rooms.


For more information about gym membership at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre contact Kelly Partington on 01942 404857 or visit www.wlct.org/leighsportscentre

-ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, 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 help people across the Wigan Borough to become more physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good citizenship.

Leigh Sports Village: For further information about Leigh Sports Village please contact Deborah Sadler on 0161 235 6392 or at deborah.sadler@sadlerpr.com 

Leigh Sports Village is the biggest investment in public sports, recreational and educational facilities in Wigan borough for many years and will transform Leigh into one of the finest hubs of activity in the North West.

The £83m project also includes:
• 10,000 seat stadium
• new Leigh Sixth Form College building
• 400 metre running track with a covered sprinting facility and club house
• new pavilion for a Leigh East Rugby League Club
• floodlit grass and artificial pitches and a multi use games area
• 150 bedroom 4 star hotel and offices
• leisure and specialist retail facilities including a cinema, restaurants, bars and a ten-pin bowling alley.

Partners involved in Leigh Sports Village include:
• Greenbank Partnerships Limited
• Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club
• Leigh East Amateur Rugby Football Club
• Leigh Harriers Athletics Club
• Leigh RMI Football Club
• Leigh Sports Village Company
• Leigh Sports Village Trust
• Wigan and Leigh College
• Wigan Council
• Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust
 

Print this page

Return to Trust News
 

Trust Home Page | About Us | Leisure | Culture | Tourism | Sport | Arts | Libraries | Contact Us