Cheshire East Council’s £15m state-of-the-art lifestyle centre will open its doors to the public on April 1 giving the people of Crewe the most modern combined leisure and community amenity in the country.
Far more than a fitness facility, the building between Prince Albert Street and Lyon Street, will also house several customer-focused council services, including the town’s public library and a community hub where families and residents with special needs can access vital day-care support.
A contact centre will help residents with queries about other Council services such as housing and council tax enquiries.
The leisure side of the building will be open from 6.30 in the morning and swimmers will be able to enjoy a 25 metre, eight-lane swimming pool, while keep-fit enthusiasts can work out in a 100-station gym and fitness suite, containing the very latest in cardiovascular, body strengthening and functional training equipment.
A multi-purpose sports hall can be adapted for a whole range of sports from five-a-side football to indoor bowls, plus special events, exhibitions and functions, even weddings.
With a floor area of 7,600 square metres, Crewe Lifestyle Centre will represent a milestone in Cheshire East Council’s campaign to promote healthy living and provide a brand new, state-of-the-art sports and community complex in the heart of the town.
Councillor Janet Clowes, Cabinet member for adult care and integration, said: “This is an inclusive provision for both the able-bodied and people with special needs.
“Our designers, in partnership with service providers and users, have thought of everything that can help people with disabilities to share in all the benefits that this centre can offer.
“Special pool lifts, ceiling tracking and ‘changing places’ facilities will enable the most severely disabled to enjoy their visit here.
“Our community hub also has an excellent, well-fitted out sensory room, while the entire building has been designed specifically to be as dementia friendly as possible.
“I am really looking forward to seeing this building in full use after April 1 and I am proud to have been involved in delivering this project on behalf of Cheshire East Council for the people of Crewe.”
Crewe Lifestyle Centre will replace several outdated pre-war buildings in the town such as the Flag Lane swimming baths and other old community-focused buildings, which have become costly to run and are no longer fit for purpose.
The leisure side of the centre will be managed by Everybody Sport and Recreation, a self-governing charitable trust in charge of managing all the Borough’s leisure facilities on behalf of the Council.
Councillor Sam Gardner, Cabinet member for leisure and open spaces, said: “The Council has delivered on its promise to the people of Crewe, providing an outstanding facility that brings so many sports, leisure and community facilities under one roof.
“We believe in investing in the health and lifestyle of our families and individual residents and children, and will continue to do so by upgrading our other centres such as the Peter Mason Leisure Centre in Congleton where we intend to spend more than £8m on a new swimming pool together with other improvements.
“Our policy is to put our residents first so that they live longer, happier and healthier lives.”
Councillor Andrew Kolker, Chairman of Everybody Sport and Recreation, said: “Crewe Lifestyle Centre represents the jewel in the crown of the trust’s 15 leisure sites that we manage, on behalf of the Council, for the benefit of the residents of Cheshire East.
“We will offer all the affordable membership benefits associated with our existing centres and anyone who wishes to tour the centre can do so prior to its opening on April 1.
“I want to thank my team, Cheshire East Council, Kier Construction and everyone who has contributed to this magnificent facility.”
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