Splashing the cash for new swimming pool

Plans are being made for a new state of the art swimming complex in Rochdale.

The new swimming baths will be built adjacent to the existing building on Entwistle Road, and will include an eight lane swimming pool, dance studios, community rooms and a children’s gym.

Link4Life are in discussion with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency - a budget of £8.25 million has been approved with feasibility studies being carried out to determine whether the build can go ahead.

Craig McAteer, Link4Life, said: “The existing building was built in 1936 and it needs replacing. We work alongside the local authority to replace existing important facilities and the swimming baths are the best used facility in Rochdale, so it is important to replace it for the community who use it.”

Mr McAteer explained that the plans are being looked over to establish if they will fit in with the ‘Town Centre Master Plan’.

The plans are expected to be similar to those of the new Heywood Sports, Culture and Leisure Village which is being built on the site of the existing Heywood Sports Complex and is due to open September.

If the building goes ahead it will be built next to the existing swimming baths building to accommodate those using the facilities and to cause minimum disruption. When the build is completed the existing building will be demolished and used for car parking.

The plans are at the early stages and at the moment a completion date hasn’t been determined, nor has the company building the project been decided.

Public consultation will be carried out at a later date.