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VISION OF THE FUTURE: Artists’ impressions of what the new centre would look like.
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Sporting chance of £8.5m dream
28/12/2007
PLANS have been submitted for an £8.5M sports, culture and leisure centre, bringing the dream facility one step closer to Heywood.
If successful, the centre would include two swimming pools, a four-court sports hall, dance studio and a fitness centre with 80 pieces of gym equipment.
Outside there are plans for three full-size pitches, four smaller pitches and an artificial turf pitch.
The plans are to be submitted to a planning sub-committee early next year and Heywood NDC chief executive Vicki Devonport has said she is ‘very hopeful’ they will be approved.
If successful the project would receive funding from Rochdale Council, New Heart for Heywood and even the Football Association.
Building work would start in early 2009 and after a 12 to 15-month build the centre would open in early 2010.
The facility would be built on the site of the existing Gaskell Pool, which would be demolished and the Jack Talbot Sports Hall, which would be incorporated into a larger building and refurbished.
John Heywood, chairman of the steering group which has overseen the plans, said: "Some people in Heywood were very sceptical that we would ever get a new sports and leisure centre but plans are due to be discussed at the township planning committee in the new year and - fingers crossed – we will be one step nearer to realising the dream of many people in the town.
"Hopefully the people of Heywood will have something to be really proud of and young and old will be able to enjoy this facility for years to come."
The plans for the centre aim to make it a hub in the community for young people, with a ‘chill out’ room especially for them as well as a junior gym.
Plans for a skate park at the facility are also under discussion.
The aim of the plans is to create rooms that can be used as flexibly as possible, including a community and rehearsal room, which would be used by a wide range of groups and activities.
The building would be run by cultural trust Link4Life, with a management group including local people having a say on lettings policies and prices.
Vicki Devonport said: "The aim of this centre is that it would provide services for residents at prices which are affordable.
"We may not have been able to give everyone what they said they wanted in the consultation but it is a definite improvement on what the town has at the moment.
"And in terms of raising aspirations it will be a magnificent building for the town."
Councillor Colin Lambert said: "The building would be an investment in facilities for future generations.
"I look forward to being able to support the planning application that has been sent to Heywood and look forward to the first brick being laid."
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29/12/2007 at 03:26