Leisure centre to shut for £80k refurbishment

The Waves Lesiure Centre will close for refurbishment

A leisure centre is to temporarily shut as new power mains are installed and an £80,000 refurbishment is carried out.

Waves Leisure Centre in Whitley Bay will be fully closed from 30 June to 15 July, when the pool, safety play, exercise classes, activity rooms and cafe will reopen. The gym is scheduled to reopen on July 20.

The installation of a new air source heat pump system also coincides with the refurbishment of the Contours gym facility.

Whitley Bay North councillor John O’Shea said: "I welcome the major refurbishment of facilities within the centre, and in particular the plans for the improvement of the Contours Gym which is used by many local residents."

Improvements to the main changing room and refurbishing the reception area are also scheduled.

The work is funded with money that North Tyneside Council had set aside for maintenance of the centre.

The gym refurbishment is being paid for with contributions the council received from housing developers as part of the planning approval process.

'Great news'

Waves Leisure Centre underwent £300,000 worth of renovations and maintenance back in 2016, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The renovations included work to the roof and the airflow inside the building alongside an earlier refurbishment of the gym.

"It’s great news that the well-used Waves Leisure Centre is to be refurbished," Mr O’Shea said.

"I’m particularly pleased that a new Air Source Pump System is to be installed that will support the council’s aim to introduce carbon friendly arrangements."