New Lift Finally Installed at Waterworld and Major Refurb Work at The Centre Underway

A new lift has been installed one of Wrexham’s largest leisure centres after being out of action for several months – with further improvements set to be unveiled at the end of the summer.

The refurbishment works, which are currently underway at Waterworld, feature as part of a long-running plan between Wrexham Council and partners Freedom Leisure to improve leisure facilities across the county borough.

The two entered into a contract last spring, with Freedom Leisure taking over the management of four leisure and activity centres and five dual-use sports facilities.

Since then Wrexham Council and Freedom Leisure have embarked on a £2.7 million investment, with revamps planned for all four centres – as well as new 3G pitches at sites across the area.

The improvements, bringing in state-of-the-art gym equipment and new facilities, will give members new ways to get fit.

So far Gwyn Evans Leisure Centre in Gwersyllt and Queensway Stadium in Caia Park, have benefited from over £130,000 of extensive refurbishment, with new state-of-the-art gyms at the two sites celebrating their grand opening in June 2017.

Queensway Stadium has also benefited from a further £60,000 investment for the new outdoor five a side pitches which have been converted to 3G.

The new facilities at Queensway Stadium

Cllr Paul Rogers, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-Poverty, with responsibility for Leisure, said: “I recently opened the new and improved facilities at the Gwyn Evans Leisure Centre in Gwersyllt, and the Queensway Stadium in Caia Park.

“Gwyn Evans underwent more than £50,000 of improvements, while the Queensway Stadium had more than £80,000.

“I was really impressed with the improvements at both – but these are just part of the ongoing improvements being carried out by ourselves at Wrexham Council and Freedom Leisure.”

A full schedule of improvements works are also in the pipeline for Chirk and Waterworld, with a combined £2 million investment for the two sites announced in March this year.

Improvement work at Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre earlier this year and once complete will see the facility benefit from a new state-of-the-art gym and a brand new 3G sports pitch.

Waterworld will also be fitted with a new gym, along with improvements made to the reception, cafe, ground flood changing rooms and the addition of a cycle studio. Work at the town centre leisure centre also began in the spring.

Andy Harris, Freedom Leisure Area Manager, adds: “The first half of this year has certainly been busy with the many different improvements being made to these wonderful community facilities in Wrexham.

“Two new 3G pitches and three gym refurbishments down, we have a third brand new 3G pitch at Morgan Llwyd Leisure & Activity Centre, leaving us with the grand unveiling of the major improvements at Waterworld at the end of summer!

“We operate these facilities in partnership with the council, and are hugely grateful for the investment they are making to improve them – we’re more than just a leisure centre operator and pride ourselves on engendering active communities.”

An artist’s impression of the new gym and studio at Waterworld

Along with the refurbishment work at Waterworld, the leisure centre has also been fitted with a new lift after months of being out of action.

Issues with the lift were raised back in January, however the fault was first reported in October 2016 – prompting concerns over the long-term impact it was having on users of the centre.

Wrexham Council say that previous attempts to repair the lift weren’t successful and that a decision was made for a new lift be installed to make sure all centre users could continue to access facilities on the first floor.

Cllr Rogers added: “I’m also very pleased to see the new lift in operation at Waterworld – centre users have been very patient while the former lift was replaced, and they should be thanked for that.”

Andy Harris, Freedom Leisure Area Manager, said: “I’d like to echo Cllr Rogers’ thanks to Waterworld customers for their patience during this time. As I’ve noted before, us having the lift out of order for so long definitely did not serve our interests, and we wanted there to be a working lift up and running at Waterworld as soon as possible.

“Centre users have been very patient throughout the work on the lift, and I’m glad to report their patience has been rewarded by having the lift in service much earlier than we expected.”

Video: Freedom Leisure have also unveiled a video featuring CG images of the new-look Waterworld, which can be viewed in full below:

For more information please visit the Freedom Leisure website.