Improvements to a leisure facility in West Cumbria are now underway as the multimillion Cleator Moor Town Deal plans progress.

Following planning approval last year, Thomas Armstrong, working on behalf of Cumberland Council, has now started work on the activity centre.

The Healthy Town project is part of the Cleator Moor Town Deal and the works are the first of the projects to get underway.

Bob Metcalfe, Chair of the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board, said: “The improvement work will transform the existing facility to accommodate wider sports and more flexible activity spaces for the local community.

“The ambitious schemes for Cleator Moor are moving forward and will provide sustainable developments for the benefit of the whole town.”

Cumberland Council has been working with contractor Thomas Armstrong under a design and build contract with the works starting this month with an anticipated 13-month programme.

To allow the works to get underway the activity centre building closed to the public on Monday, January 13, with the 3G pitch operating during the works.

Once complete, it will provide the community with a modern, multi-purpose and inclusive sports facility at the existing activity centre.

The site improvements will include:

• Four court sports hall
• New fitness suite
• Multipurpose studio space
• Changing facilities

It will also provide a new base for Copeland Occupational and Social Centre (COSC) who provide dedicated outreach support to disabled people and groups.

Sam McCrae – Murphy, COSC Manager said:“The quality of service we are going to be able to offer is a dream come true.

“COSC has been in The Bunker for over 30 years, in that time we have expanded our service to reach more ages, disabilities and an outreach support programme.

“The members say to have windows, a garden, and a safe space to explore their abilities and make new friends is life changing.

“We all would like to thank the people who have been involved in making it happen.”

Healthy Town aims to enhance leisure provision in the town to boost levels of health and wellbeing and encourage more people to visit, bringing increased footfall and revenue to local businesses.

It is proposed that the new centre would deliver a broader programme of sports, physical activity as well as providing a home to wider health and wellbeing services.

Tom Rice, Cumberland Partnership Manager for GLL said: “This is a great investment for the people of Cleator Moor and surrounding areas, the new facility is going to provide more activities to more people and really benefit the Health and Wellbeing of the local population, we are excited to be a part of it.

“During the building works our current members of Cleator Moor Activity Centre will be able to access our other facilities at Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre, and Whitehaven Sports Centre.”

The facility improvements are one of a programme of projects supported by the UK Government’s Town Deal.

Cleator Moor Town Deal secured an award of £22.5m from the Government’s Towns Fund along with an additional £18.4m from match funders.

This includes a £2.1m grant for the Healthy Town project from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, as part of its investment in supporting permanent and sustainable change in Cleator Moor and all its site communities.