[A]MBITIOUS plans for a leisure centre revamp have taken a major step forward.
The proposal sought for the extension and alteration of the leisure centre building to include; a large extension featuring a new indoor play centre with refreshment area, a large fitness suite with new equipment, additional meeting and studio space, increases in existing rooms, an improved entrance and improvements to the existing car park.
The planning permission has been granted by Copeland Borough Council and now paves the way for the centre to apply to funders in support of the rebuild.
When funding is secured, the indoor play centre will be the first and only soft play in the area, and will provide a source of enjoyment for up 90 kids that frequent the building out of term time.
The application also included a single lean-to extension that will be used to store equipment which will replace a storage container currently located on the car park.
Trustee and Director of Millom Recreation Centre, Marion Giles who last year received a British Empire Medal in support of her work and dedication to the local community, said: “On behalf of Millom Recreation Centre’s Management Team, we are all delighted with the news.
“This now enables us to move the extension project forward to the next funding stage.
“This is exciting times for our community to have its’ own indoor soft play facility and much needed fitness suite, which will be named in honour of the late Bill Pugh, who provided fitness and athletics coaching to most areas of our sporting community.
“The added storage area will also allow us to purchase additional equipment for Millom Recreation Centre’s successful gymnastics club.”
Copeland Community Fund granted the centre £50,000 in support of the project in October 2015. This funding enabled the centre to appoint a Project Manager to manage the application alongside an architect.
David Moore, Chair of Copeland Community Fund, said: “We were delighted to provide enabling funding to move this project forward, get drawings undertaken and an estimate of costs.
“Millom Recreation Centre can now investigate and source the required funds to transform the facility.”
The centre currently offers a range of sporting and leisure facilities to the public of Millom and South Copeland, and is open seven days per week.
