Promising sports stars put their names to £10m leisure centre refurb project

Some of the borough’s promising sports stars of the future have put their names to the major refurbishment of a town’s leisure centre.

Children from The Quinta Primary School, in Congleton, were given the chance to make their own mark on the work to upgrade the town’s leisure centre – by signing one of the last pieces of steel to be used to form the structure of the new pool hall.

Their school is known for its sports achievements and is the current town sports champions.

Signing of the steel took place outside the construction site but the children were able to see the new-look centre taking shape from a safe distance.

Work on the £10m upgrade started in June and, despite recent heavy rains and the pandemic, the scheme is progressing well. The 70-week project is due to be completed towards the end of 2022.

There will be two new swimming pools, with a thermal suite, modern gym, café area and soft play area. The refurbishment is being carried out by Congleton-based Pulse Design and Build.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council’s chair of the environment and communities committee, said: “The work on the leisure centre is progressing well and I am convinced leisure centre members, and the town, will be pleased with their new facility.”

Alison Cope, PE coordinator at The Quinta, said: “We were thrilled to be asked to sign the steel and the children thoroughly enjoyed their chance to see the construction work from a distance. The school has a very strong record across many sports and I am sure many of our pupils will be using the refurbished leisure centre when it is completed.”

The new-look Congleton Leisure Centre will span more than 3,300 square metres and the new pool hall 670sq metres. The centre was built in the early 1970s and is one of the borough’s 14 leisure and sports facilities managed by Everybody Sport and Recreation.

To view a short video of the event visit: https://youtu.be/oAPtaXGI4AQ