Construction work on delayed Oldbury lifestyle centre finally starts (From Halesowen News)

Construction work on delayed Oldbury lifestyle centre finally starts

12:06pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in News

Mike Nicklin from Liftco, Richard Nugent from Sandwell PCT, Lous Taylor from Sandwell Leisure Trust, Steve Eling from Sandwell Council and Sport England's Ian Silvera at the new Portway Lifestyle Centre site.

CONSTRUCTION work has begun on the brand new Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury - two years after it was supposed to be completed.

The legal and financial contracts for the £18m centre have been signed and contractors Thomas Vale have moved on the former Oldbury Leisure Centre site.

The firm will carry out soil stabilisation works and construct foundations for the building’s steel frame and the centre is set to open next Summer.

The centre was supposed to be completed in 2010 but years of financial wrangling with the Treasury meant that the project was delayed.

Sandwell Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for strategic resources Councillor Steve Eling said: “It’s great to see all the activity under way and the site starting to come together.

“It is a major vote of confidence Sandwell can undertake a multimillion pound scheme in this tough economic time.”

The venue, which will bring together leisure, health and social care under one roof, is a joint project between Sandwell Council and Sandwell Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Facilities at the centre will include a four-court sports hall, climbing wall, dance studio, gym and full-sized, all-weather pitch.

There will also be a hydrotherapy pool for therapeutic purposes, a cafe and a GP surgery.

Sandwell Leisure Trust have announced that 12 new jobs will be created at the centre when it opens.

The council and Sandwell PCT are working on the scheme with Sandwell LiftCo, a partnership of private and public sector organizations which invests in major health and social care projects.

Sport England gave the scheme £1.5m of National Lottery funding from its Iconic Facilities fund, part of a legacy programme for the Olympics and Paralympics.

The centre will also carry the London 2012 Inspire mark to celebrate the link to the Games.