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Open Days are being held this month to give the public a chance to see plans for the proposed new Ashington Community and Leisure Facility.
The plans will be on display from 11th – 13th October in Ashington Library. The new building will be a welcoming and inclusive space that is informative, friendly, safe and accessible to all customers - providing a vibrant place for residents to engage with the council and services, as well as a calm and relaxing environment to read, learn or meet friends.
It will be the first point of contact for frontline council services including a high quality library with the latest interactive technology, a registrar’s service, helpful advice and information, a café and meeting spaces all together in one and convenient and modern location.
The contemporary leisure facilities will feature a superb new swimming pool, advanced gym facilities, spa, multi-functional sports hall and studio space to host classes and activities.
Representatives from Arch, Northumberland County Council, the design team will be on-hand to explain how the designs are taking shape. Opening hours are:
- Thursday 11th October 9am – 7.30pm
- Friday 12th October 9am – 5pm
- Saturday 13th October 9am – 12 noon
Peter McIntyre, Arch Group Managing Director said: “The new Community and Leisure Facility is at the heart of our wider Ashington Town Centre regeneration plans. This flagship project will act as a catalyst for new jobs and further development and improvements in the town. The range of facilities proposed in the new building closely reflect what local people told us they wanted during the consultation process. More than 1,500 people gave their views on the types of community and leisure activities they would like to see.”
Councillor Jeff Reid, Chairman of Arch and Leader of Northumberland County Council said: “The Council have committed to a major investment of £20m for the new facility. The designs have been developed following extensive consultation with local people. Their feedback and ideas have played an important part in helping to create the blueprint for the impressive new facilities which will improve Ashington for people who live, work and study in the area.”
Councillor Neil Bradbury, Executive Member for Customer Relations and Culture, said: “This is going to be a landmark development bringing impressive new sporting, learning and community facilities to the people of Ashington and surrounding areas. The new designs reflect this and we are looking forward to showing them to local people at these open days.”
It is expected that building work on the new Community and Leisure Facility will start in spring 2013 and open to the public in 2014.
More information:
The plans will be on display in the Children’s Library within Ashington Library, Kenilworth Road, Ashington, NE63 8AA.
Arch, The Northumberland Development Company, has been established by Northumberland County Council as an arms-length development company to drive capital economic development, physical regeneration projects and business growth in Northumberland.
Parsons Brinckerhoff, together with their project partners, Ryder Architecture, was appointed earlier this year to develop a masterplan for Ashington Town Centre, with a new Community and Leisure Facility as the centerpiece.
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