City's largest leisure centre could be replaced

Fenton Manor in Stoke-on-Trent opened in 1976

A city’s largest leisure centre could be replaced with a new facility under plans being discussed by the council.

Fenton Manor in Stoke-on-Trent opened in 1976 but officials at the city council said it was coming to the end of its expected lifespan.

The Labour-run authority is looking at building a replacement as part of the Etruscan Square regeneration scheme on the site of the former bus station and East West Precinct about two miles away (3.2km) in Hanley.

According to a council report, the new leisure centre would be built along with an events venue with up to 2,000 seats.

It comes after proposals for an indoor arena at the Etruscan Square development in Hanley were scrapped by the authority in October.

A spokesperson for the city council said: “With the removal of the arena, originally part of the site masterplan, the city council is considering a range of longer-term options for the wider site including leisure and entertainment uses.

“Fenton Manor is coming towards the end of its expected life and will need either major refurbishment or replacement in due course.”

The Etruscan Square development would regenerate a brownfield site in Hanley

Stoke-on-Trent South Conservative MP Jack Brereton said the leisure centre should not be moved from the Fenton Manor site.

He said: “It would be a totally bonkers plan to close what is a perfectly good sports facility to just move it to the Etruscan Square site.

“This shows the total lack of ambition which the Labour-led council have for our city.”

Councillor Sarah Hill, a cabinet member on Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said during a meeting on 26 March that it was important the authority moved the plan forward quickly.

“It’s been rumbling around for a long while and people want to know what we’re going to do, so I think we need to show what we’re going to do,” she said.

Council leader Jane Ashworth said the project would be grounded in “harsh reality” and that it would be properly costed.

The plans are expected to be discussed with a new private sector development partner for Etruscan Square, which is set to be appointed before the end of 2024.

Planning permission has already been granted to build up to 292 homes on the site.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.