GYM facilities in Middlewich are set to be upgraded as part of a council scheme worth more than £12 million.

Work is already underway to upgrade Poynton Leisure Centre, Nantwich Pool and Barony Sports Complex after Cheshire East Council chiefs gave the thumbs up for renovation this summer.

Now, facilities in Middlewich, Wilmslow and Knutsford are also set to be transformed, after CEC’s cabinet agreed for work to progress in all five towns at Tuesday’s meeting.

It comes after Everybody Sport and Recreation (ESAR), the charitable trust set up by CEC in 2014 to run the borough’s leisure centres, saw an attendance of more than 3.7 million across its facilities in 2018-19.

Cllr Mick Warren, cabinet member for communities, said: “These capital developments will enable ESAR – in partnership with the council – to continue to deliver an improved level of quality provision and thereby contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents in the borough.”

Northwich Guardian:

Facilities will be upgraded in Middlewich once a detailed business case is approved by council chiefs, with funding already ringfenced in the budget.

A new gym with up to 60 stations and flexible studio spaces could feature either in Middlewich Leisure Centre or at an alternative site in the town.

Knutsford Leisure Centre’s upgrade would see an additional 60 to 80 gym stations added, along with a bigger reception with café, car park improvements and a new learner pool.

And Wilmslow Leisure Centre could see the MUGA space reconfigured for an alternative use, while gym capacity, studio spaces and car parking would also be improved.

Welcoming the move, Cllr Jos Saunders, Conservative, said: “If we do have improved facilities, hopefully they will go there and it will help to improve the health and wellbeing of those residents.”

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The move follows other refurbishments which took place in 2018-19 – including pool upgrades in Knutsford, Poynton, Wilmslow, Nantwich and Macclesfield.

ESAR currently has an agreement in place to run CEC’s leisure facilities until April 30, 2029.