Extreme sports revamp for Deeside Leisure Centre

A climbing wall is being built at Deeside Leisure Centre

Work has started on an extreme sports centre at a Flintshire council-run leisure centre as part of a multimillion-pound deal.

A climbing wall and high ropes course are being built at Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry, and a BMX park.

The partnership between Flintshire council and Alliance Leisure will also see the opening of a day spa, including a herb sauna and aroma room.

More than £5m is being spent on council leisure facilities across the county.

Elsewhere, some Welsh councils are looking to set up charitable bodies to cut costs to run their leisure centres and swimming pools.

Councillors in Torfaen will hear next week how transferring the services could save up to £1.4m over five years.

£1m revamp

Swansea and Bridgend are also reviewing their leisure services.

But Flintshire decided last year to enter into a four-year deal with private sector firm Alliance Leisure acting as its development partner.

A 10-pin bowling alley is being built at Flint Leisure Centre in a £1.1m upgrade.

And a new fitness suite and dance studio will be opened in Buckley next year as part of a £1m revamp.

More than £2m is being spent at Deeside Leisure Centre, with 5-a-side floodlit football pitches already completed this year.

Work started this week on the indoor "extreme sporting zone" which will feature a large park for BMX riders, skateboarders and in-line skaters, including one of the largest skate bowls in the UK.

A climbing or bouldering surface is also being constructed along with a seven metre (22ft) high climbing tower and five metre (16ft) high ropes course.