A new £20 million leisure centre will provide an “iconic” gateway to Widnes, according to plans published today.
The plans produced by Halton Council said the new facility in Moor Lane would replace the ageing Kingsway Leisure Centre and provide a service “fit for the borough’s 21st century leisure needs”.
As well as a six-lane, 25m competition swimming pool and four-court sports hall, the Moor Lane leisure centre will include a gym, spinning studio, squash court and teaching pool, and provide a base for the borough’s swimming club.
The plans state: “An iconic new leisure centre in this location makes a statement that the council is modern, forward-looking and ambitious in its aspirations for the borough."
The Moor Lane facility, expected to open in late 2022, is also meant to play a key role in fighting obesity levels in Halton, which are currently well above the national average.
Cllr Phil Harris, the council’s portfolio holder for sport and leisure, said: "The proposals are for a centre which is fit for purpose in terms of accessibility and sustainability.
“It will be open to all, with a design that is also dementia-friendly, and make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of our residents. We are also exploring virtual reality-related exercise in the spinning studio.”
Councillors approved the £20m investment in the new leisure centre in October 2019, when it was announced that the facility would be built on the site of a former business centre opposite the Widnes bus depot.
The council said a new facility was needed as the Kingsway Leisure Centre had reached the end of its useful life and, while refurbishing it would be cheaper than building a new leisure centre this would not meet the borough’s needs.
The Kingsway facility will then be redeveloped, but the council is yet to announce plans for the site.
But the plans have already caused some resentment in Runcorn over perceived favouritism towards Widnes.
Cllr Carol Plumpton Walsh, who represents Halton Brook, told a council committee in February: “The public think Widnes is getting everything and Runcorn is getting nothing.”
Halton Council is understood to be working on plans for new leisure facilities in Runcorn, focusing on a replacement for the crumbling Runcorn Swimming Pool but no concrete proposals have been made.
The council has extended the consultation period for the Moor Lane proposals, allowing residents to comment up until the local authority makes a decision on the planning application.
A decision is not expected until late June at the earliest.
