Lasting legacy for £60m Smethwick Games pool drawn up
A legacy plan is being drawn up to make the most of the proposed £60 million aquatic centre which will be built for the 2020 Commonwealth Games.
Members of Sandwell Council's safer neighbourhoods and active communities scrutiny board are to discuss how residents and businesses can benefit from the project which was given planning approval earlier this month.
The designs for the new leisure centre, at Londonderry Playing Fields, feature a 50 metre Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, a 25 metre diving pool and a studio pool along with 1,000 spectator seats.
A report to the board has said the priority of centre project so far has been the design of the new facility and to ensure that it is delivered in time.
But it adds: “The benefits that can be gained from the delivery of this facility and the Commonwealth Games 2022 is much broader than just its construction.”
Councillors are now being asked to draw up proposals which will see long term improvements in sports development, public health, education, regeneration through tourism and local communities.
The project’s contractor, Wates Construction, has already announced a ‘meet the buyer’ event on Tuesday, April 30 to encourage local businesses to bid for contracts during and after the construction phase.
The aquatic centre is expected to be given the final seal of approval when it is it goes to Sandwell’s full council meeting in April.
Proposals for a forum group led consultation will be discussed at the scrutiny board meeting on March 28.
By George Makin, Local Democracy Reporter
