Popular community hub in Plas Madoc renovated with help from traineeship construction academy

Students have given a function room at a popular leisure centre a new lease of life with assistance from a leading construction firm.

Learners taking part in the traineeship Coleg Cambria construction academy have upgraded a former meeting room at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre in Wrexham and engaged Wynne Construction for support.

The leisure centre room has been upgraded from a small bar area to a multi-use room for yoga and Pilates classes and children’s parties. State-of-the-art flooring has been donated by world-leading manufacturer Kronospan with Llandudno-based flooring company Linney Cooper donating their time to undertake the installation with Wynne Construction joiners carrying out additional joinery works.

Alison Hourihane, business and community development manager at Wynne Construction, said: “We were really pleased to offer our time and support to Plas Madoc as part of the Yale site redevelopment project for Coleg Cambria.

“We know how much the leisure centre is valued in the community and these renovations will go a long way to helping to secure its long-term future.”

Amy Rowlands, Coleg Cambria traineeship construction academy employability mentor, said 10 trainees – aged between 16 and 18 from across Wrexham and Flintshire – had embraced lending their skills to the project.

She said: “They’ve done really well. A lot of them didn’t enjoy school but because this is such a practical course where they have been able to develop their skills they have fully engaged in the programme.

“They have enjoyed being part of this project and giving something back to the community – they’ve thrived.”

Denise Chadwick, Plas Madoc Leisure Centre general manager, praised the efforts of the teams enlisted to help bring the room up to standard.

She said: “It was a room that we have used for meetings and children’s parties in the past, but it really needed a refurbishment to meet customers’ expectations.

“We are thrilled to have received the help from Coleg Cambria, Wynne Construction, Linney Cooper, Kronospan and Tesco, this project would not have progressed without their help.

“We’re a local charity and this will make a big difference to us and what we can offer in the future.”

Team of Coleg Cambria students who have been helping to lay a new studio floor at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre front L-R: Daniel Jones, Dylan Haynes, Trystan Bithell, Tomas Griffiths; Back L-R: Amy Rowlands, tutor; Oliver Roberts, Troy Lockley, Harry Jones and classroom assistant Ruby Hannah-Tapp

Kronospan director Christopher Ryan added: “Plas Madoc Leisure Centre provides an important recreational facility for the local community.

“The management team, employees and volunteers work tirelessly to make it a success and Kronospan is delighted to continue its support.”

Dewi Hughes, Linney Cooper project manager, said: “We have worked closely with Wynne Construction on previous projects and as we are working on the Yale campus, we were invited to lend a hand here which we were more than happy to do.”

Wynne Construction is delivering a new further education site on Coleg Cambria’s Yale campus in the town. The three-storey, 96,000sqft building will house facilities for catering, creatives arts and sports students along with general teaching and IT studios. The project will be completed for the new academic year in September 2020.

(Top pic: Denise Chadwick, general manager Plas Madoc Leisure Centre and Wynne Construction contracts manager Graham Dixon take a look at the final stages of a new studio floor being laid with centre L-R: Oliver Roberts, Linney Cooper; Daniel Jones, Dylan Haynes, Tomas Griffiths, Coleg Cambria; Stephen Parsonage, Connor Owen, Wynne Construction; Back L-R: Nefyn Elwy, Dewi Hughes, Alan Hughes, Linney Cooper; Amy Rowlands, tutor Coleg Cambria and Alison Hourihane, Wynne Construction)