Carlisle Leisure Limited (CLL) and Allerdale Borough Council today unveiled a significant improvement programme to the fitness suite and changing facility at the town’s Moorclose Leisure Centre.
The £400,000 project will see significant investment in Male and Female changing facilities and improvements and an extension to the facilities very popular gym which will include two new spaces and an extension to the existing spinning studio.
Councillor Alan Smith, Leader of the Borough Council commented: “Although we are currently looking at the funding and siting of a brand new leisure centre for Workington we recognise that some investment is needed in our current facilities whilst this takes place. We think we have got the balance just right in terms of this investment and that customers old and new will be delighted with what we are going to do.”
Martin Horne, Area Manager for CLL added: “We’re really happy to get these vital improvements under way. Moorclose is an old facility now and we are committed with our partners in Allerdale to helping facilitate a new centre for the region as soon as practicable. In the meantime we have to take action to ensure that existing and hopefully new members get a decent service and good facilities to use whilst we do this work.
“At Moorclose this has been difficult due to the age of the building and the need to get the balance right between investing and maintaining standards versus spending money in what are challenging times.”
The investment is split roughly 50:50 between refurbishment and updating equipment. The refurbishments are being funded by the Borough Council and will be repaid over time from a fund which their Partnership with CLL has enabled. The equipment is being provided by Pulse Fitness in partnership with CLL. Pulse are also designing, managing and building the new and improved spaces.
Chris Johnson Managing Director for Pulse comments on the project: “We are delighted to be working with Carlisle Leisure Limited and Allerdale Borough Council on this leisure improvement project utilizing our unique portfolio of services we have a provided a pro-active solution that includes facility refurbishment, state-of-the-art fitness equipment supply and we are also assisting CLL with some sales and marketing initiatives to support the opening of the new fitness suite. We hope this is the start of a long and prosperous partnership.”
The gym area is being extended upstairs into what used to be the centre’s kitchen to form a light resistance area and the existing spinning room will gain some space from the removal of the old bar area. Downstairs an old meeting room and disused crèche will be made into a bespoke weights and heavy resistance space. The existing weights area and gym space will be joined together and will form a spacious area for cardio equipment, stretching area and notably two new power plates. The amount of exercise stations in the new gym is expected to increase from around 45 to over 70.
The Male and Female dry changing facilities are being gutted and completely refurbished. Martin Horne added: “We’ve been conscious for a while that our dry side changing facilities weren’t really good enough and this investment gives us an opportunity to put that right. We will be reinstating the ventilation systems and replacing vanity units, WC’s, showers and cubicles and redecorating throughout to provide a modern, pleasant refurbishment.”
Work on the improvements has already started and is expected to last 4-6 weeks.