Aireborough Leisure Centre set for £1.2m refurbishment

Proposals for a £1.2m revamp of a north west Leeds leisure centre will be discussed by senior councillors next week.

Submitted as part of a report to Leeds City Council’s executive board on 16 November 2016, members will have the chance to support a wide-ranging refurbishment programme at Aireborough Leisure Centre and also back a plan for the facility to become the new home for a local ‘Community Hub’.

Set to be given a face-lift as part of the scheme will be cubicle, shower and toilet facilities in the swimming changing rooms and the pool hall, with the pool deck retiled and improvements made to the walled areas. To improve further the visitor experience at the centre, work will also be undertaken to enhance the reception, entrance to the car park and the frontage of the building.

Offering access to a range of important local services under one roof, the introduction of Community Hubs in areas across Leeds has already proved to be a success. Community Hubs provide information and advice to local residents on matters such as council tax, benefits and housing and access to job shops. As part of plans set out in the report, Guiseley Library will relocate to a new home at the leisure centre to form part of a new Community Hub which will also feature a new café. By moving the library into the leisure centre, this will allow the council to release a surplus library building and use some of the savings to reinvest in the Community Hub.

For a full copy of the executive report, please see: http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/s151691/Aireborough%20Leisure%20Centre%20Cover%20Report%20041116.pdf

Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for sport, said:

“I am pleased that we are now in a position to provide further details of our £1.2m refurbishment programme of Aireborough Leisure Centre to the executive board. We want to make our leisure centres somewhere that offer both excellent facilities and a positive visitor experience for users, and this revamp which will see improvements made both internally and externally, will help ensure that we are meeting these aims at of Aireborough Centre.”

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said:

“The development of the Community Hub programme offers a completely new way of working. Community Hubs place integrated, accessible services where they are most needed: at the heart of local communities.

“Our plans will see the creation of a Community Hub, offering help, advice and information on issues such as housing, council tax and access to job shops in one new home at Aireborough Leisure Centre. This is an exciting prospect for Guiseley and one we are looking forward to progressing.”

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk