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One of the largest sports facilities of its type in the North West
opened its doors this week. Leigh Indoor Sports Centre beckoned in a new
era for sport and physical activity in Leigh with its public opening on
Wednesday 2nd January.
The sports centre is a major element of the £83m Leigh Sports Village.
The £6.4m facility, funded by Greenbank Partnerships, Wigan Council and
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, will be used by sports clubs and
individuals for a range of activities including aerobics, basketball,
dance, swimming, karate, badminton and gymnastics.
Leigh Indoor Sports Centre’s facilities include:
• Swimming pool – a 25m, six-lane pool suitable for regional galas with
spectator seating.
• 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.
The opening day was busy with new members trying out the new state of
the art equipment and enjoying tours of the facilities for the first
time.
Stephen Platt, aged 16 from Leigh, joined friends to be the first to dip
his toes into the new pool. Stephen said: “I like the location – it’s
ideal because it’s just up the road from me and it’s something we’ve
never had in Leigh before. I’ll probably come everyday – it’s great to
be able to swim and work out all under one roof. It’s more fun coming
with our friends – it makes keeping fit even easier and it’s a good way
of socialising.”
Another enthusiast grabbing an early work-out was Christine
Marshall-Smart from Hindley. She said: “I’m really impressed. This is a
great facility for everyone living nearby and the staff are great –
really friendly and welcoming. I like the fact that I don’t have to pay
an annual fee so I can fit my time in the gym around work and holidays –
you can even come and use the fitness suite for single one off visits.”
One of the site’s first new members was Stephen Lowe from Hindley.
Stephen said: “I first heard about the site through the college and I
was really keen to get down here to sign up today. The facilities are
superb - It’s great to see a public facility that is just as good, if
not better, than the big name gyms. The opening times are great for work
and I’ll be able to bring along the family along to use the pool.”
Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Rodney Hill said: “We
are delighted that the site is now up and running. We hope local people
will come along and see for themselves the opportunities there are to
keep fit, be healthy and enjoy sporting activities – this facility is
for them. We believe this sports centre is one of the finest in the
region and we will be working hard to ensure that we work closely with
the rest of the partners at Leigh Sports Village to make this one of the
most vibrant sporting areas in the North West.”
For more information about Leigh Indoor Sports Centre call in at Leigh
Sport Village (off Atherleigh Way, Leigh), phone 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
Leigh Sports Village: For further information about Leigh Sports Village
contact Cheryl Spykerman on 01942 705685 or visit
www.leighsportsvillage.co.uk alternatively 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
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 and Improving People’s Lives: is Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust’s vision to get people across Wigan Borough more
physically, mentally and creatively active. The Trust also aims to have
a positive impact on people’s lives through the wide range of services
it provides.
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Senior Duty Manager Andrew Hewitt
poolside with his team of Recreation Assistants
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