£8m leisure centre ‘once in a lifetime’

A NEW £8million leisure centre in Royton will provide a lasting Olympic legacy, say Oldham Planning Committee members who approved the project this week.

The centre will have a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool with spectator seating, a separate learner pool, an 80-station fitness gym and two exercise/dance studios.

The planning application for the modern design — to be built opposite the site of the existing centre in Byron Street — was submitted at the end of February.

The current Royton Sports Centre will not close until the new facility is complete, thought to be around autumn, 2015.

Councillor Steven Bashforth said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s not going to be perfect, you’re never going to get something that will satisfy everybody. It is sad to hear that some sports may well lose out but I think the majority of people will be happy with it.”