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All systems are go in a £10 million scheme to build a state-of-the-art leisure centre at a projected 'sporting hub.' If all goes to plan, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough will become the proud possessor of what is being termed a 'sporting hub' which already has a start at the Marston's Stadium on Leicester Road.
A meeting of the council this week heard talks are ongoing with the landowner with a view to begin work at the site as soon as possible. Borough council Chief Executive, Steve Atkinson, said: "It was a unanimous vote by members for a relocation out of town. Generally, everyone was happy with the options, which are still open, regarding a move next to the football club, or across the road at the former crematorium site which the council owns. The sooner the better." Delighted borough Deputy Chief Executive, Bill Cullen, said: "Our advice to the all party working group was not just to look at the potential for a leisure centre in isolation, but to develop a major high quality sporting centre, and meet all the requirements of these sports. What we see is our commitment to that, and to commission design work for the sporting hub. We looked at the option of refurbishment of the existing leisure centre in the town, but there were lots of unknown costs to get a wholesale transformation of the centre." As well as the leisure centre and the football club, the 'sporting hub' could include the nearby rugby, tennis, squash and cricket clubs.Plus, in addition, the council would include the former crematorium site nearby, so that sporting facilities could be added to the 'hub' in the future." A working party was set up in September last year to look at the options which came down in favour of relocating to the A47 as being better for residents in the borough, with easy access for those living in rural areas. The current contract with leisure centre operator, SLM, runs out in 2011. The working party also concluded that expensive restoration of the existing leisure centre would force it to be closed for up to a year, which the council, with its responsibilites to those using the centre, felt to be 'unrealistic.' From the Heartland Evening News http://www.hen-news.co.uk/: |
