Delight as leisure deal leads the way

OLDHAMERS will soon be able to enjoy some of the best sports and leisure facilities in the country.

The council has signed a 10-year deal with Oldham Community Leisure and work will now begin on new leisure facilities.

Plans include a new sports centre on the site of the old Aldi supermarket in Manchester Street.

OCL has bought a pub near the site to make the centre larger than originally planned; the fitness studio will be over 30 per cent bigger than the current one in Lord Street.

There will also be a new centre in Royton, a £300,000 refurbishment project at Failsworth Sports Centre and a new sauna and steam room at Saddleworth Sports Centre.

Membership packages will also be revamped

Stuart Lockwood, OCL’s chief executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be renewing our partnership.

“There are some fantastic commitments from OCL within the new contract which we believe will make a real difference to raising activity levels and helping people lead a more active lifestyle.”

Councillor Hugh McDonald, Cabinet member for education and safeguarding, added: “We have always had a great working relationship with OCL and we are looking forward to this continuing.”