New leisure centre is such a pleasure

FITNESS fanatics are already taking advantage of the new £15million Oldham Leisure Centre, which officially opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

Council chiefs say the facilities will be better than ever before, which include a 25-metre, eight-lane swimming pool of county-level standard, an 80-station gym, two dance studios, a bespoke spinning studio, eight-court sports hall with seating for over 500 spectators, indoor bowls arena, café and free car parking for members.

The new centre, in Middleton Road, also has Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accreditation — which means it can cater for the needs of the disabled.

The old Oldham Sports Centre, on Lord Street, closed on Tuesday for the final time with the site included in plans for further town-centre regeneration. Glodwick Pool also closed on the same day.

Friends Kathleen Stanley and Christine Nield, from Chadderton, have been to the new Royton sports centre — which opened last month — but said they prefer the Oldham one.

Kathleen (64) said: “We’ve been here for swimming and to use the sauna. It’s really nice, better than the old centre. That had declined over the last couple of years. But this is still near the town centre.”

Christine (54) added: “I stopped going to the old one when it had gone downhill. This one is nice inside, nice and bright. It’s very modern, the younger ones might be more inclined to use the gym, it’s a lot bigger.”

Bernard Thorpe (61), from Marsden, has started taking up more exercise since retiring.

He said: “I usually go to the centre at Saddleworth. I thought I would look around. It’s very smart inside. I’ve picked up a brochure for some of the classes. Some of the ladies might be concerned about the mixed changing room downstairs, but the ones upstairs are separate.”

Bernadette Fox, from Hollins, came to check out what facilities would be available for her disabled son — and she was impressed, as he would no longer have to go all the way to Rochdale for a centre suitable for his needs.

Mrs Fox (61) said: “It’s great. My son goes to the swimming baths in Todmorden with his carer.

“They’ve enjoyed it but when the winter is bad they can’t go. He had to use a hoist at the old centre in Oldham and it was always breaking down. They’ve shown me around the disabled changing room near the pool — that was good. I will be bringing him here.”

Part-time cafe worker Mary Herring (69), from Royton, has yet to see the new centre in Royton but liked the swimming and sauna facilities at the Oldham centre.

She said: “It’s lovely. Everything is nice and clean and new. The old centre was OK but it got neglected and it was a little bit dirty.”

Thomas Waddington (31), from Failsworth, said: “It’s nice and clean — it stands out. I can’t fault it. They’ve done really well.”