Work has officially started on a brand new £2.5 million Health and Wellbeing Centre in Creswell.
A sod cutting ceremony took place on the site on Colliery Row with Councillor Duncan McGregor making the first cut into the grass.
Creswell Leisure Centre closed its doors in 2016 and the need for a leisure facility has been felt strongly. The centre was designed following a public consultation with residents to ensure it offered what people in the area wanted.
The project is being built by Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council with assistance and funding from Bolsover District Council, Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council, Derbyshire County Council, Viridor, Big Local, and Bolsover Partnership. The facility will include:
- A 27-station gym
- Exercise studio
- Soft play area
- Badminton sports hall
- Café
It is hoped the centre will increase the number of people who are active and improve opportunities for recreation, leisure and learning.
Councillor Duncan McGregor said: “This is a facility for the community and we are very excited that building work is underway. It’s been a hard slog getting here but it will be worth it when the centre opens later this year. “The people of Creswell have been without a gym or leisure facility for almost six years and this new building has been designed with the people’s needs in mind. I can’t wait to open this building to the public and see it busy with activity.”
Jack Snowdon, Senior Project Manager from Robert Woodhead Limited, who will be building the centre said. “It’s great to finally be starting on site. We’ve worked in Bolsover before on many housing developments, but it feels rewarding to be able to deliver this centre which is going to make such a difference to the local community.”
Craig Taylor from Lungfish Architects said: “We are excited to be working collaboratively with Robert Woodhead Limited, to enable Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council to provide enhanced facilities and health benefits for the local community. As a space which will bring together different community groups, the building has been designed to be as multi-functional as possible with a gym and exercise studio, and café - with function spaces for activities inspired by the cliffs and iron age caves of the nearby Creswell Crags.”