2009 hope for leisure centre

Church Stretton could have a new multi-million pound community leisure centre in place by the summer of 2009, it was revealed today.

Shropshire County Council is to begin work on a leisure centre for Church Stretton School in 2008 with completion the following year.

Now campaigners are hopeful of raising enough cash to see their contribution developed at the same time, creating a centre for the whole community.

A charitable trust has been established and trustees are in the process of applying for grants to help raise the £1.5 million needed to realise their dream.

Dr Charles West, spokesman for the trustees, said today: "Shropshire County Council has agreed to build a standard leisure centre for the school, which it is hoped will be complete in summer 2009 now.

"What we want to do is make it into a leisure centre that can be used by the whole community.

"With our contribution of cash we hope to create another entrance to the centre for the community, develop a gym, new changing rooms and also provide a link to the swimming pool.

"If we can find enough cash we would also like to develop a multi-use games area."

Dr West said trustees were hoping to have sufficient funds in place by autumn of this year to be able to work their plans into the county council's scheme.

He said: "It makes more sense for all of the work to be done at the same time so we are now striving to ensure we have funding all ready and in place within the next six months so that by summer 2008 the whole centre can begin to be built.

This article was posted on April 13, 2007 at 5:31 am.