Major Refurbishment Works to Improve Two Wrexham Leisure Centres Begins

Two leisure centres in Wrexham are to undergo significant refurbishment works to improve their facilities.

Both Waterworld and Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre are to benefit from a total investment in excess of £1.5 million which will be used to upgrade the gyms at the two sites.

The highly anticipated works are being funded by Wrexham Council, who successfully secured an interest free Welsh Government Sports Facilities Capital Loan in March 2016.

The funding scheme, which is offered to local authorities, allows for the modernising of local sport and recreation facilities – along with making them more inclusive, accessible, efficient and attractive to help meet local needs.

Improvement work at Chirk Leisure & Activity Centre began on March 20th and once complete will see the facility benefit from a new state-of-the-art gym. The site will also receive a brand new 3G sports pitch.

Along with a new gym, Waterworld will also see improvements made to the reception, café, ground floor changing rooms and the addition of a cycling studio. Work at the town centre leisure centre will start on April 10th.

Andy Harris, Freedom Leisure Area Manager, has welcomed the start of the improvement works.

“These refurbishments have been in the pipeline since we took over the management of all nine of Wrexham’s leisure centres back in March 2016, so we are delighted that plans have now been finalised and permission granted, allowing us to get started,” said Andy.

“These refurbishments are to improve the facilities for all existing users but will also hopefully succeed in encouraging new users too – once they are aware of the new state-of-the-art facilities on their doorstep.

“The plans were specifically drawn-up after consultation with the community and in line with council plans for Wrexham to be a place where people are healthy and active, so there will be something for everyone.”

Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, said: “Helping Wales become a healthy and active nation is a Welsh Government priority which is why I am pleased that some of the funding made available to Wrexham Council via our Sports Facilities Capital Loan Scheme has enabled improvements to both these two centres, plus the pitch at Chirk and pitches at other sites in the area too.

“Top class facilities like these mean that people of all ages can enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity all year round.”

Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Place and Economy, added: “We’re very pleased to be able to work alongside Freedom Leisure to introduce this program of works, and improve leisure facilities for residents across the county borough.”

In line with the project plans, work at Chirk is due for completion in June, with Waterworld set to be finished in August. Centre management wish to let users know that some disruptions will be inevitable; however the intention is to keep these to an absolute minimum enabling continued use of the facilities throughout the building phase.

For further details visit the separate centre pages on www.freedom-leisure.co.uk and keep an eye on Facebook pages for both centres. If you have any queries call 01978 297300.