Next stage of improvements to Northumberland leisure centre set to begin

The second phase of a £5million overhaul of a Northumberland leisure centre is due to start this week.
The current Blyth Sports Centre in Bolam Park, pictured above, will be replaced by a new leisure centre for the town, Northumberland County Council has announced.The current Blyth Sports Centre in Bolam Park, pictured above, will be replaced by a new leisure centre for the town, Northumberland County Council has announced.
The current Blyth Sports Centre in Bolam Park, pictured above, will be replaced by a new leisure centre for the town, Northumberland County Council has announced.

Blyth Sports Centre is undergoing a major facelift to improve sports and leisure facilities and create a ‘wellness hub’ for the community.

Phase two of the work will include the creation of a new gym/fitness area and two new fitness studios. There will also be new spa facilities and wet and dry changing rooms, all set to be completed in January 2021.

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Plans are also in place to create a dedicated cycling studio, a new and improved soft-play experience, an extended café offer and a redesigned reception area. This work is due to be completed by next summer.

The leader of Northumberland County Council, Coun Peter Jackson, said: “The community of Blyth has been in need of new and improved leisure facilities for many years and we know it has been a real concern for local residents.

“This exciting project will see the centre transformed with some of the very best services and equipment and is just part of the county council’s huge commitment to the town.”

The first phase of the project was completed in February and involved essential improvement and maintenance work, and the refurbishment of the pool hall. The spectator area was given a new lease of life with new flooring and seating, while the changing rooms were modernised and new windows and lighting was installed.

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Coun Cath Homer, the cabinet member for leisure, added: “At the beginning of the year, the refurbished swimming pool hall and modernised changing areas, which formed the first part of our improvement works, were widely welcomed by local residents.

“It’s great news that we are now able to push ahead with the next phase of planned improvements, and we’ll soon be well on our way to bringing some more fantastic new facilities to the local community.”

Blyth Sports Centre was originally built in 1967, extended in 1979, with a further extension added to the front of the building in 2006.

A survey in 2017 identified a budget of £3.2million was needed for repair and maintenance over a five-year period and to resolve a backlog of outstanding issues, before councillors approved a budget of £5million for the upgrade last March.

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Elsewhere in the county, work is underway on a new £20million leisure centre in Berwick, while planning permission was recently granted for Morpeth’s £21million new facility.

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