New £8m centre makes a splash

ANYONE fancy a swim? Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon, Stuart Lockwood (OCL chief executive), Anthony Dillon (managing director of contractor Willmott Dixon), and councillors Barbara Brownridge and Jean Stretton visit the new centre

STATE OF THE ART fitness equipment and Olympic legacy swimming facilities are ready for use as the new Royton Leisure Centre prepares to open officially on Monday.

The £8 million centre in Byron Street has a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool and a learner pool with spectator seating, an 80-station fitness gym and two exercise/dance studios.

The gym is the largest in Oldham, until the new town centre facility opens, and the pool is the same design as one of the London 2012 Olympic training pools. The learner pool can be used for a variety of activities including lessons and Aqua Fit sessions.

The centre, funded by Oldham Council, will be run by Oldham Community Leisure and replaces both Shaw Baths and the former Royton Sports Centre.

The current centre will close today, ahead of demolition to make way for the new 60-space car park.

OCL chief executive Stuart Lockwood said: “The facilities are modern, well designed and a perfect place for people to exercise right on their doorstep. It will become a central hub for adults and children of all ages and abilities, providing a better and more tailored offering than ever before.”

Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon said: “Due to councils not having as much money as in the past, some compromises had to be made by reducing the number of centres to make these facilities the best they could possibly be. People should come down and take a look at the new centre to see what a fantastic facility this is.



Oldham Active members can be the first to use the new facilities during OCL’s Open Weekend this weekend. Until Monday, anyone who signs up to an Oldham Active membership will pay no joining fee. For more information log on to www.oclactive.co.uk.