Architect selected for leisure centre
ARUNCORN firm of architects has been picked to develop plans for a £20m leisure centre in Widnes.
Halton Borough Council has appointed Ellis Williams Architects to produce designs for the Moor Lane site, which is intended to replace the aging Kingsway Leisure Centre.
A spokeswoman for Halton Council said progress on the project has been taking place behind the scenes in recent months. An overhaul of leisure and sport in Halton was announced in September and coincided with the local authority’s public backing for the Football Foundation’s proposals to transform and create pitches across Runcorn and Widnes and renovate changing rooms.
As part of the Halton plan, Runcorn Pool was earmarked for demolition due to being in poor condition.
A site is yet to be identified for its replacement, and Cllr Phil Harris (sport) told the Weekly News that Runcorn baths will be retained until its successor site is found.
Brookvale Recreation Centre in Runcorn is also to be refurbished.
Public consultation over the Moor Lane plans is starting this month.
The spokeswoman said: “The next phase of the process for the centre development will be a stakeholder consultation in January, with key users and elected members.
“This will be focussed on the use mix in the proposed new centre.
“There has also been ongoing consultation with centre staff.
“Until this has been done progress to construction costs and other key stages cannot be realised. “There are a wide range of technical reports that need finalising such as traffic surveys, car parking arrangements etc and issues such as the use mix in turn impact on the design and other costs, including climate change adaptation measures.
“We are exploring a range of options on use mix and design which are to be shared first via the stakeholder consultation later this month.”