£4m facelift deal for leisure centre
GYM goers and swimmers will benefit from a £4m investment in Macclesfield Leisure Centre.
A partnership arrangement has been struck between Cheshire East council (CEC) and Everybody Sport and Recreation, which manages the facility on the council’s behalf. The centre, at Priory Lane, will see major upgrades to gym equipment and fitness studios, plus a new spa and swimming pool ‘village’ change facility. The main work will begin in the new year and be completed by late spring/early summer.
Frank Jordan, CEC executive director of place, described the announcement as ‘great news for people in and around Macclesfield’.
He added: “This is a significant investment to further improve the quality of sports facilities for our residents. This partnership arrangement with Everybody will bring future benefits to both the council, in terms of value for money through a reduced cost for the service, and for our residents, who will have access to a high-quality leisure provision across Cheshire East.”
Coun Liz Wardlaw, CEC cabinet member for health, said: “We are extremely pleased with this £4m investment in improvements, in partnership with Everybody, in Macclesfield. It will enhance the offer to a range of user groups, including Care4CE, which is proving very popular and helping people to stay fit and healthy.”
Coun Andrew Kolker, chairman of the trust, which has a board of independent trustees, said: “This leisure centre in Macclesfield will help local people to take part in sports and encourage them to enjoy a happy healthy life.
“I am delighted that we have secured first-class sports facilities for the people of Macclesfield.
“During the last five or so years, we have seen a remarkable increase in the number and frequency of residents across Cheshire East using our centres and services.”
Latest figures reveal increased revenue, cus- tomer use and improved facilities.
In a statement, a CEC spokesperson said: “Attendance and leisure use has improved again, with an increase of eight per cent in the number of visits during 2017/18 from 3.1 million to 3.3 million. When attendance at the new Holmes Chapel Community Centre is taken into account, the increase is 13 per cent.
“Membership of leisure centres rose from 14,872 to 17,938.”