New and improved leisure centres, swimming pool and football pitches are the highlights of ambitious Halton Borough Council proposals to invest in the borough’s leisure facilities.

Kingsway Leisure Centre will be replaced by a new £20 million leisure ‘hub’ on Moor Lane, while the popular Brookvale Recreation Centre will get an overhaul as part of an indoor and built facilities strategy.  A new leisure centre for Runcorn is also planned to replace Runcorn Pool.

The strategy, which sets out the Council’s vision for the next ten years, along with illustrative plans for the new leisure centre, and a local football facilities plan, will go before councillors at this week’s Executive Board.

If approved consultation will then begin to confirm facility mix, layout and business planning, and progressing other objectives in the strategy’s action plan.

The indoor strategy was developed because the Council faces a number of challenges in respect of its indoor sports facilities; primarily that Council-owned swimming pools and sports halls are old and of poor or below average quality.

New and improved leisure centres, swimming pool and football pitches are the highlights of ambitious Halton Borough Council proposals to invest in the borough’s leisure facilities.

Kingsway Leisure Centre will be replaced by a new £20 million leisure ‘hub’ on Moor Lane, while the popular Brookvale Recreation Centre will get an overhaul as part of an indoor and built facilities strategy.  A new leisure centre for Runcorn is also planned to replace Runcorn Pool.

The strategy, which sets out the Council’s vision for the next ten years, along with illustrative plans for the new leisure centre, and a local football facilities plan, will go before councillors at this week’s Executive Board.

If approved consultation will then begin to confirm facility mix, layout and business planning, and progressing other objectives in the strategy’s action plan.

The indoor strategy was developed because the Council faces a number of challenges in respect of its indoor sports facilities; primarily that Council-owned swimming pools and sports halls are old and of poor or below average quality.

Funding for the proposed indoor facilities will be from a mix of sources, including the Council, borrowing, and external funding such as Sport England.

The report to the Executive Board highlights it could cost £12 million just to refurbish the existing Kingsway Leisure centre, as opposed to £20 million for a brand new facility and the opportunity for a larger regeneration site on the current Kingsway site, part of the proceeds of which would contribute to the cost of the new leisure centre.

The Football Facility plan is part of a national scheme by the Football Foundation to channel investment into grassroots football across every local council area in the country.

Following consultation with local football, an action plan has been produced which would be the first point of reference to any bids to the Football Foundation who are responsible for considering investment and can provide up to a maximum of 50 per cent match funding.

Halton’s Football Facility Plan identified potential projects including:

  • Two new 3G pitches, one at Frank Myler Pavilion and one at a Runcorn site, yet to be identified

  • 37 improved grass pitches across Runcorn and Widnes

  • Two new changing rooms at Haddocks Wood and Leigh Recreation playing fields

  • One pitch for small-sided games.

     

    Cllr Phil Harris, Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for community, sport and leisure, says: ‘’Investment in new sports and leisure facilities makes great sense in Halton given our health and deprivation needs and we also need to take account of the need to invest to save. Halton has a great sporting community that deserves better as do the thousands of leisure users.”