New Sports and Leisure Centre now open

The new £13.5m Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre is now open to the public.

The fantastic new facility is based in Fielden Street opened today, Monday March 9.

It features new swimming pools, children’s water fun zone, and two new water slides.

There is also a state of the art gym, dance/aerobic studio, separate spinning studio, health suite which is available from 6.30am until 10pm Monday – Friday and 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

There is free parking on the college car parks until 8am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.

The new Leisure Centre has been built as a result of a unique partnership between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn College.

Students from the college and community sports groups have been using the dry side of the centre since last year.

Olympic freestyle swimmer Rebecca Adlington OBE will officially open the Sports and Leisure Centre on March 20 during a VIP ceremony and take part in a Q & A session with 100 school students, along with representatives from the sports clubs and organisations from Blackburn with Darwen’s Community Sports Forum.

The partnership with the College has brought significant financial benefits for both parties as they have shared the capital and revenue costs of a brand new, modern facility.

The Council’s share of the capital costs was estimated to be £8.5million.

Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Young People said:

“Come along and see the fantastic new leisure centre for yourself. The facilities are second to none and we know it is going to be a huge attraction for residents in the borough and beyond.”

For more information, log onto www.blackburnleisurecentre.com or www.facebook.com/BlackburnSportsandLeisureCentre