Dudley council considers £25m leisure centre plans
by Tom Walker | 02 May 2017
The council said it has made “a firm commitment” for a sweeping modernisation of its health and fitness facilities / Shutterstock
A plan to build a new £25m leisure centre could be among proposals considered by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) as it looks to overhaul the region’s active leisure provision.
The council said it has made “a firm commitment” for a sweeping modernisation of its health and fitness facilities – which could see existing centres being redeveloped and a new one built in the town centre.
A spokesperson for DMBC said the council had abandoned earlier plans to demolish all three existing centres – in Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge – and replace them with two new facilities.
Alan Lunt, strategic director at DMBC, said that while the three centres could still have a future, they were all in “desperate need of repair” and would require an investment of more than £3m.
“A detailed assessment is under way to determine the preferred future model of provision of affordable and sustainable leisure centres within the borough of Dudley,” Lunt said.
“These proposals are very much about creating improved leisure facilities that are not only fit for the future, but also financially sustainable.
“Whatever form that takes will be decided following the scrutiny process making sure the views of people are taken into consideration and that any proposals stack up financially.
“No decisions on where the leisure centres are to be located will be made until the conclusion of that important scrutiny process.”
According to the council, the £3m of investment needed in the three existing centres includes £500,000 for a new air handling unit at Halesowen and a further £500,000 on a new roof at Dudley. The Stourbridge centre also needs a new boiler, which is expected to cost around £50,000.
Council figures show that there are 1.2m visits to the three facilities each year, which generates £2.87m for the authority – with the council covering a £1.9m deficit to keep the centres open. Membership across the three sites stands at 4,400.
A plan to build a new £25m leisure centre could be among proposals considered by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) as it looks to overhaul the region’s active leisure provision. The council said it has made “a firm commitment” for a sweeping modernisation of its health and fitness facilities – which could see existing centres being redeveloped and a new one built in the town centre. A spokesperson for DMBC
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