Last updated at 12:57, Friday, 15 February 2013

Designs and sites for a new £9 million Workington leisure centre could be revealed this summer.

Allerdale council wants to build a new centre to replace the old Moorclose venue.

The council this week revealed that building work could start as early as April next year.

Under the council’s draft budget, the Labour executive plans to borrow £5 million towards the project. It intends to raise the rest of the money by selling land.

The budget for 2013/14 still needs the approval of the full council on March 6.

Deputy council leader Barbara Cannon said that if funding plans got the go-ahead, officers would start work in earnest to secure the money and draw up plans.

The council plans to start a public consultation in a couple of months to find out what facilities people want there.

Coun Cannon, who is responsible for the council’s budget, said: “I’d like to think that some time in the late summer we might start getting some idea of locations and designs.

“Under at least the last two administrations the council has been planning to build a new leisure centre so it’s quite important.”

Coun Cannon said she was pleased that the council could balance its books and still find capital funding for the leisure centre despite a need to cut its overall budget by 28 per cent in three years,

She said: “We know we need to provide leisure facilities. It’s not just for Workington, it’s a facility for the whole of Allerdale.”

Paul Shackley, council corporate director, said April 2014 was the earliest that the council could see building work start.

Last year, the Moorclose centre had a £450,000 revamp to tide it over.

First published at 12:21, Friday, 15 February 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk