WORK on building the new Northfield Leisure Centre got under way this week.
And to signal the momentous occasion, children from nearby St Brigid’s RC Primary School came down to the site with their ‘memory drawings’ of fun times spent at the previous Northfield Pool and Fitness Centre.
The designs will be incorporated into a colourful collage alongside hoardings at the Northfield development where they will be displayed until the centre opening in May next year.
The new £7.7million modern leisure centre will replace the recently demolished pool and fitness centre which was demolished on the site on the corner of Bristol Road South and Great Stone Road.
It will boast a 25-metre pool and a teaching pool, a state of the art gym, a group exercise studio and a room for community use.
The new leisure centre will be built and managed by the Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT), in partnership with Birmingham City Council (BCC), which has invested the £7.7million.
Brian Taylor, the chairman of the Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, said over the next four weeks the development would begin coming above ground and the steel structure was due to go up in June.
“That is when many residents will start to see everything taking shape.
“We are delighted to mark today’s official start of construction here in Northfield with so many talented young citizens who will benefit for years to come from the new facilities.
“We look forward to welcoming residents throughout the community to a fabulous, modern building.
“What better incentive for everyone, young and old, to opt for a healthy lifestyle and enjoy themselves at the same time.”
Coun Debbie Clancy said: “I learnt to swim at Northfield pool when I was five so I have fond memories of it.”
“I’ve always thought we need to promote swimming more and this pool will be the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Coun Randal Brew said: “I was glad we were able to keep the pool in Northfield Town Centre – it is where it belongs – and we are delighted it is on schedule to open in May 2018.”
He praised the contractors for the way they had worked with the residents to minimise disruption while work was going on.
“There is a lot of passion about Northfield Pool and Fitness Centre because of the old building and because it had been here since 1937 but sometimes you have to just grasp the nettle and now we will have a fantastic facility for future generations.
“Northfield’s previous pool was the second most popular in the city and we want the new one to be the most popular.”
