Work to start on leisure complex's £400,000 revamp

The renovation work will see the reinstatement of Mercer Hall's grand doors, which lead into the hall

Initial work to transform a leisure complex in Lancashire will begin later this summer.

The £400,000 project at Mercer Hall in Great Harwood will include asbestos assessments and the drawing up of technical designs to accommodate new flooring and furnishings in the main hall and front entrance.

Key features of the renovation will be the reinstatement of the grand doors which lead into the hall, and the addition of a new dance floor.

Local community groups hope to be able to start using the hall from December.

'Historic building'

Mercer Hall was built between 1913 and 1921.

Hyndburn Council decided in 2022 to permanently close its swimming pool in favour of a new purpose-built £12m leisure centre at Wilson Playing Fields in Clayton-le-Moors.

The new facility is due to open in October.

Mercer Hall's gym will close when the new complex opens, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Hyndburn Council's deputy leader and leisure boss, Councillor Melissa Fisher, said Mercer Hall was a "much-loved community landmark".

She said: "It's wonderful to know that these efforts will ensure the people of Great Harwood can continue enjoying this historic building for many years to come."

Mercer Hall, on Queen Street, is named after scientist John Mercer, who came from the town and invented a treatment to improve the quality of cotton fabric.