It’s ‘game on’ for Burscough Sports upgrade
- Councillors approve £3.18m upgrade of Burscough leisure facilities
- Improvements will provide vastly improved experience for users
- Burscough refurbishment is the first step on Borough’s leisure plans
West Lancashire Borough Council has approved £3.18m in funding to significantly upgrade Burscough Sports’ facilities.
The Council has been developing exciting plans for improvements, working with development partner Alliance Leisure. The project has now been approved with councillors giving the green light to the refurbishment that will deliver a modern leisure, wellbeing and fitness facility to meet the needs of West Lancashire residents
The objectives of the project include integrating new technology, incorporating changing trends to meet user needs and preferences, improving the building’s ‘look and feel’ for all users, optimising capacity and layout and creating more flexibility in how spaces are used. The plans will also improve building’s efficiency and sustainability for the longer term.
The improvements will include:
• A refurbished and extended gym with 70 stations and functional training space
• New roof
- New indoor cycling studio
- New wellbeing suite with power-assisted equipment
• Refurbished sports hall and squash court floors
• Updated and modernised reception and lobby area
• Refurbished changing rooms and toilets
• Refurbished external facade
• Improvements to plant, mechanical, electrical and heating/cooling infrastructure.
The Burscough works are part of wider plans in progress to significantly improve the opportunities for residents to improve their health and wellbeing. Two planning applications have now been submitted for the Ormskirk and Skelmersdale Wellbeing & Leisure Hubs. The Skelmersdale application has received planning permission and the Ormskirk application is set to go before the Planning Committee imminently. West Lancashire Borough Council’s aim is to build two new modern, energy-efficient and centrally located Leisure & Wellbeing Hubs for the people of West Lancashire. The vision for the 300 acres of outdoor park space at Beacon Country Park is also under review as part of the future plans for the Borough's wider leisure offer.
Councillor Carl Coughlan, lead member for Leisure, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have been able to bring this ambitious plan to fruition and that work on the ground will commence very soon.
“The major works and investment in this facility will of course mean a temporary closure, but I can assure residents that the building they return to will have vastly improved facilities offering modern, comfortable and flexible spaces for them to enjoy.”
To allow the transformational works to happen, Burscough Sports will close at 4pm on Sunday 26 May 2024. Following this date, the site will be prepared for development, whilst aiming to start construction in June 2024.
The transformational work will be carefully managed to minimise the impact on residents and businesses as much as possible and concessions are being made to WELL fitness members as compensation for the inconvenience. Members have the option to benefit from the facilities at other WELL sites or freeze their membership with no charge. To simplify this change, we will upgrade all members to a walkabout membership on Friday 24th May, enabling them to benefit from Park Pool and Nye Bevans facilities. If members wish to freeze, they can email WLBCleisure@westlancs.gov.uk or call 01695 576325.
Community groups using the current facilities have also been signposted to find alternative venues or spaces within the Borough.
Visit our microsite here: https://ow.ly/V5WP50RA5OF
