Work to incorporate a children’s play park and increase parking provision at the new Berwick Sports & Leisure Centre is now finished, marking the completion of the scheme. 
 

The new free car park now provides a total of 182 spaces including 14 new electric vehicle charging points, 11 accessible bays and 6 parent and family parking spaces. 
 

The children’s playpark which includes a new rubber safety surface at the side of the centre comprises swings, including a basket swing, a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a mounted spring play vehicle and a toddler hamlet complete with tunnels, rope climbs and a slide. 
 

Active Northumberland manage and operate the sports centre on behalf of Northumberland County Council while the playpark will  be managed in future by Berwick Town Council 
 

Northumberland County Councillor Jeff Watson, cabinet member with responsibility for Promoting Health Lives said: 

“While the sports centre building was completed in January 2022, over recent months a phased schedule of work has been underway to increase car parking capacity at the centre, whihc is free, to landscape the site with trees and shrubs and create the play park. 
 

“The addition of a free play park for younger children is a great addition to the site which will be enjoyed by many families for years to come. “ 

Mark Warnes, Chief Executive of Active Northumberland said: 

“The sports centre is very popular and the parking can get tight at peak times so the opening up of this extra parking will really help those visiting the centre, especially during the summer holidays. 
 

“It is fantastic that the scheme is finally complete, and I thank all our customers for their patience while this additional site work was taking place.” 

The new centre is proving really popular with public swimming at the pool increasing 65%, junior public swimming up 30% and fitness memberships up 75% compared to pre-covid figures. 
 

Advance Northumberland has overseen the management of the Berwick Sports Centre construction project on behalf of Northumberland County Council. 

Northumberland based contractor Premier Plant & Civil Engineering Limited were swiftly appointed as principal contractor to complete the project after Tolent, the original contractor went into administration.