Work is now underway to bring a new and improved sports facility to Cleator Moor.
The work is being carried out on the town’s activity centre to revamp it and create a modern, multi-purpose and inclusive sports facility as part of the Cleator Moor Town Deal.
Following planning approval last year, Thomas Armstrong – working on behalf of Cumberland Council – has now started work on the centre, which is expected to take around 13 months.
Healthy Town is one of four projects that make up the Cleator Moor Town Deal and the works are the first of the projects to get underway.
The site improvements will include:
- Four court sports hall
- Multipurpose studio space
- New fitness suite
- Improved changing facilities
Once complete, the site will also provide a new base for Cumberland Occupational and Social Centre (COSC) – a day centre for individuals with physical disabilities.
Sam McCrae-Murphy, COSC manager, said: “The quality of service we are going to be able to offer is a dream come true.
“COSC has been in The Bunker for over 30 years, in that time we have expanded our service to reach more ages, disabilities and an outreach support programme.
“The members say to have windows, a garden, and a safe space to explore their abilities and make new friends is life changing.
“We all would like to thank the people who have been involved in making it happen.”
To allow the works to get underway the main activity centre building closed to the public on 13 January 2025. The 3g pitch will still be operating during the works.
The 3g pitch will be available to use from 5pm on weekdays between 13 – 31 January and will be open as normal on weekends.
Bob Metcalfe, chair of the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board, said: “The improvement work will transform the existing facility to accommodate wider sports and more flexible activity spaces for the local community.
“The ambitious schemes for Cleator Moor are moving forward and will provide sustainable developments for the benefit of the whole town.”
The Healthy Town project aims to enhance leisure provision in the town to boost levels of health and wellbeing and encourage more people to visit, in the hopes of bringing increased footfall and revenue to local businesses.
It is proposed that the new centre would deliver a broader programme of sports and physical activity as well as providing a home to wider health and wellbeing services.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, added: “This is another important step forward for the activity centre and the wider Cleator Moor schemes. It is one of a number of exciting transformational projects underway across Cumberland.
“Improving access to sports and leisure facilities has the potential to improve wider health and wellbeing outcomes in our communities, something that is a priority for the council.”
Tom Rice, Cumberland Partnership Manager for GLL said: “This is a great investment for the people of Cleator Moor and surrounding areas, the new facility is going to provide more activities to more people and really benefit the Health and Wellbeing of the local population, we are excited to be a part of it.
“During the building works our current members of Cleator Moor Activity Centre will be able to access our other facilities at Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre, and Whitehaven Sports Centre.”
The facility improvements are one of a programme of projects supported by the UK Government’s Town Deal.
Cleator Moor Town Deal secured an award of £22.5 million from the Government’s Towns Fund along with an additional £18.4 million from match funders.
This includes a £2.1 million grant for the Healthy Town project from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, as part of its investment in supporting permanent and sustainable change in Cleator Moor and all its site communities.
