Active Wirral Leisure centres to undergo £1 million upgrade

Customers and Invigor8 members at Wirral Council gyms will soon benefit from brand new, state-of-the-art gym equipment across leisure centres.

Existing gym equipment will be replaced at four sites, starting with West Kirby Concourse, Guinea Gap Leisure Centre, Leasowe Leisure Centre & The Oval as part of a wider transformation programme for Active Wirral services.

Cllr Ann Ainsworth, Vice-Chair of Wirral’s Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said:

“Investing in our leisure centres means investment in the health of Wirral communities. With four centres due to receive a large-scale upgrade in equipment, from treadmills to weights machines, we’re improving the experience for customers across the borough.

“Once the new equipment is installed, our Active Wirral Gym Instructors will continue ensure a welcoming and supportive workout for all gym users. Staff will have been trained on how to use the new kit and they’ll be on-hand to give exercise, nutrition and programme advice as you explore some new workout regimes.”

The state-of-the-art equipment will allow gym users to access personalised training programmes and receive instant feedback, with entertainment options to help motivate every workout.

The upgrade will include brand new:

Cardio equipment such as treadmills, cross trainers, rowers, bikes and the addition of verticlimbers, ski-ergs and stepmills for those customers who prefer a more energetic gym session. Strength training options such as hip-thrust, standing squat machine, a variation of a pec fly and lat pull down – these machines are popular within the fitness industry. IFI approved (Inclusive Fitness Initiative) equipment for users that have mobility issues and/or use wheelchairs.

In preparation for the installation of the new equipment, centres will be closed from the following dates:

West Kirby Concourse will be closed from Thursday 27 November Guinea Gap will be closed from Monday 1 December Leasowe Leisure Centre will be closed from Monday 8 December The Oval will be closed from Thursday 11 December

The work is expected to no more than a week at each centre – with teams working to minimise disruption to customers as much as possible.

The improvements will further enhance the role of Active Wirral Facilities as an accessible and affordable option to keep residents and communities active and healthy, both physically and mentally.

Residents are being asked for their views about how to further develop leisure facilities to meet their needs and interests. The Moving Communities survey takes just five minutes to complete and is open to all Wirral residents aged 16 and over. You can read more and complete the survey before 30 November here: E-focus.

The changes will be delivered under a new three-year lease agreement at an annual cost of around £293,000. The funds will come from service revenue budgets that will be repaid via the income received from activities delivered by the service.