A CEREMONY welcoming the start of work on a new high-quality leisure centre for Hough End playing fields, between Chorlton and Withington, will take place on Thursday 10 April at midday.
"Manchester is renowned as a world class sporting city and this new resource will sit along side our elite facilities bringing a top class leisure centre to residents"
The new leisure centre, 300 metres from Withington Metrolink station, will feature a six-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, a 'state-of-the-art' gym, two squash courts, a sauna, a steam room, a community room and a dance studio.
It is hoped that the existing football pitches and outdoor changing facilities at Hough End will be improved upon as part of the future development of the site.
The project, set to open in spring 2015, is one of three such leisure centres planned for Manchester, along with developments for both Levenshulme and Beswick.
Plans
Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member, said: “A phenomenal amount of hard work and planning has gone into this project so it is a real milestone to see work begin on the brand new leisure centre.
“Manchester is renowned as a world class sporting city and this new resource will sit along side our elite facilities bringing a top class leisure centre to residents that I’m sure will be cherished and well used for years to come.
“In what has undoubtedly been a tough economic time I am proud that we are not only able to create this leisure centre at Hough End but also brand new facilities in both Levenshulme and Beswick.”
This is all good news but there is an elephant in the pool.
Hough End Leisure Centre marks the beginning of the end for Chorlton and Withington Leisure Centres. These are both creaky and flaking and desperately in need of renovation so upgrading to Hough End seems a no-brainer.
Problem is the new facility is inconveniently away from the centres of either of these suburbs, indeed, for a city location is in a low population area with vast sports fields on one side and the 350,000 dead of Southern Cemetery on the other - the latter folk all way past needing to work on their abs.
True, the tram station is fairly near but it will be interesting to see whether overall visitors go up or down from Chorlton and Withington residents to their new leisure centre compared with their old centres.
Of course, commuters along Princess Parkway may benefit if they feel the need for a fitness break.
The ceremony will take place at Hough End, Princess Road Entrance, at 12pm on Thursday 10 April.
Opening times: They're proposing 6.30am to 10pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends.
Prices and membership: Prices will stay in line with those at Chorlton and Withington leisure centres and members can transfer their memberships to the new centre when it opens.
For more information or to view the plans online click here.
Floor plans
