Plans by Leeds City Council to undertake major improvements to sport, recreation and community facilities in Middleton have been handed a major boost with the announcement of a successful funding bid to Sport England.
Councillors previously approved proposals in November to invest £740k to redevelop Middleton Leisure Centre in to the Middleton Sports Hub. The new facility will feature improved changing facilities, outdoor playing pitches and the provision of a brand new 3G artificial pitch and multi-use games area.
The successful bid for £146,684 of Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund means that the council will be able to expand the refurbishment project at Middleton Leisure Centre to include improvements to the centre’s reception area and fitness studios.
Middleton Leisure Centre becomes one of 350 local community sports groups to benefit from a £17.4m Olympic legacy funding pot through the Inspired Facilities Fund.
In doing so, the building and its branding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark, cementing the centre’s link to the 2012 London Olympic Games. The funding boost from Sport England will bring the total expenditure for the refurbishment project at Middleton Leisure Centre, which last year saw its swimming pool close - to nearly £900k.
In addition to the improved changing facilities and outdoor playing pitches, the money will also result in a new community room for people with learning disabilities and a youth recreation space. Local councillor, Kim Groves (pictured above), has said that the improvements are a great boost to sport and recreation facilities in Middleton.
The council will hold a publicity event at the centre on Wednesday.
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[...] Middleton Leisure Centre has managed to secure nearly £150k from Sport England’s Olympic Legacy fund for improvements, reports South Leeds Life. Facilities to be upgraded include the changing rooms, outdoor pitches and a specially-built room for people with learning disabilities. [...]
By: Leeds today: hotels, podcasts, cinema, healthcare, Holbeck, Miggy and Girnhill. | Beyond Guardian Leeds on 15 February 2012
at 8:00 am
Great, another kick in the teeth for Holbeck and Beeston, this now proves the contempt that the councils over the years has for us.
Why dont they just be honest and tell us we arent a vital part of the cities thinking.
They say the sports centre was underused, ofcourse it was when they made sure people knew nothing about it and had silly opening hours. The reports also say John Charles is accessible, I wish they would get in a wheelchair and try and catch a bus to it, oops sorry there isnt a bus to it,
Ofcourse there is Middleton pool, oops sorry thats gone as well but was a majot factor in closing South Leeds, Armley, waste of time as its on a hill and the water is always freezing.
We have a ‘village’ in Holbeck which looks more like Beruit than England, the so called planted areas which used to hold housing is now just meadows of weeds.
I love Leeds I love Holbeck, I would die for it, but I am ashamed to tell people to come.
We had two excelent sporting arenas in the sports centre and the bowling centre we now have neither and we wonder why the health reports on our area are so dire!!!!!!!!!!
By: Phil Gleeson on 15 February 2012
at 1:03 pm
Personally I think there are more than enough sporting facilities in South Leeds. You don’t need a gym/pool to stay fit, there are plenty of parks etc to use as well. When we’re cutting back on care for the elderly etc I think pools are a luxury. Why not join the Village (I await I don’t have a car etc, etc). The John Charles Centre is a fantastic facility, and is not that inaccessible even if you have to go on a bit of trek from the nearest bus stop. I do think that Middleton Leisure Centre should still be called Middleton Leisure Centre after the update, it should be renamed to encourage those from outside the area to use it.
By: John on 16 February 2012
at 12:38 pm