Next phase of leisure centre plans approved

Atherstone's "creaking" leisure centre is set to be replaced

Councillors have given the go-ahead for the next stage of plans to create a pair of long-awaited new Warwickshire leisure centres.

North Warwickshire Borough Council's community and environment board has approved the start of feasibility studies for the facilities.

One is set for Abbey Green Park in Polesworth and a second will replace Atherstone's existing gym.

Polesworth East councillor Dave Parsons declared himself "pleased" with the way forward, adding: "I am glad there is a sense of urgency because it is needed."

There is £5.4m set aside for the Polesworth project, with £900,000 coming forward from developers of housing in the area.

Initial design work has been done for a site on Abbey Green Park to include a new gym, studios, function room and cafe.

A decision on how it will be built is due by the end of September.

A planning application is due in January 2025, with final costs to be nailed down by July next year and work to commence in August.

It is hoped the sites will open in January 2027, but councillors were warned by Cath James, interim corporate director for streetscape, that timescales "could move quite considerably".

Initial design work has been done for a site on Abbey Green Park, Polesworth

Mr Parsons said the council had an "enormous moral obligation" to provide the facilities due to new housing developments in the area.

"We cannot pour these people into what is a vacuum without facilities," he said.

"If we look at our neighbouring towns, Coleshill has its sports centre, Atherstone has a creaking sports centre and it is absolutely vital that it is refurbished and brought on."

"We really have to get our act together," he added.

His comments were endorsed by meeting chair councillor Margaret Bell who said it was important to stick the timetable outlined.

“I know it seems that we have been start-stop-start-stop on this but there is momentum now," she said.

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