Spectrum centre dream a reality for leisure group
A leisure centre is to receive an overhaul after being handed over to a local community group.The Spectrum Leisure Centre in Willington is set to be transformed, with plans including a specialist children¹s gym, a sports hall and a fitness suite.
Wear Valley District Council has agreed to lease the leisure centre to Spectrum Leisure and Management (SLAM), run by Ian Hirst, 45, of Wear Valley Basketball Club.
Mr Hirst, from Crook, is chairman of SLAM.
He said: ³At the moment the leisure centre is only open minimum hours about 20 hours per week. It is barely open on a weekend, just a couple of hours on a Sunday.
³Within 12 to 18 months, we hope to get towards 80 hours a week.² The new leisure centre will include a Junior Shokk gym.
³When it is built, it will be one of only two of its kind in Durham.
Mr Hirst said: ³The children¹s gym will be full of fitness equipment and will look just like a shrunken adult gym.
³We hope it will help to address health issues in Weardale.² The handover was agreed at a council meeting on Wednesday night, with SLAM being given a 99-year lease of the leisure centre.
The council and SLAM are working towards a May 1 handover with the aim of starting work by the summer.
Andrew Frankom of Wear Valley District Council, said: ³The council has been working with SLAM to handover the facility for some time.
³SLAM will have better access to funding than the district council and work closely with sporting clubs and community groups for the benefit of Willington and the surrounding area.² Funding for SLAM has come from Wear Valley District Council, The Northern Rock and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
Mr Hirst, reassured people that, despite the name of the management group, the handover will not be solely for the benefit of the basketball team.
He said: ³It¹s not just going to be a centre for basketball, it¹s going to be a facility for anyone who is interested in sport and leisure.³It has been a hell of a journey. It has been in the pipeline for two and a half years.
³It might be even more exciting in the future.²