New swimming centre for Wednesbury

The move follows the closure for the last six months of Wednesbury Leisure Centre's two pools for maintenance work, including associated asbestos removal.

During routine repairs to the filtration system at the pools, inspections found further significant maintenance and structural problems. These have put the facility beyond economic repair.

Council chiefs say they will now "fast track" the building of a new centre - and have asked deputy leader Councillor Steve Eling and the working group delivering the new Tipton and West Bromwich pools to take this forward.

Councillor Eling said: "We will be able to provide a modern, energy-efficient centre which can give people in Wednesbury new, high quality facilities to replace the current pools, which are around 40 years old.

"This is the value for money option for the future.

"The working group will now plan the design, cost and timescale for the new leisure centre.

"In the meantime, people in Wednesbury can continue to use Tipton Swimming Centre for public swimming.

"And we have the new Tipton swimming pool due to open in spring 2013 with the West Bromwich swimming pool to follow in 2014.

"Our experience of these two projects will stand us in good stead to fast track the development of the new leisure centre for Wednesbury.

"We will provide further information on the timetable for the new facilities in the near future."

The sports hall and fitness gym at Wednesbury Leisure Centre, which is located in High Bullen, currently remain open.

The council and Sandwell Leisure Trust, which runs the centre, are working to keep as many activities running a possible while the new swimming centre is developed.

Lois Taylor, chair of Sandwell Leisure Trust Board, said: "We look forward to working in partnership with the council to develop a fantastic new swimming pool facility for Wednesbury.

"We will carry on working with clubs and schools that have used Wednesbury's swimming facilities regarding alternative provision in the meantime."