SLT secures contract for West Smethwick Park leisure hub

Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has secured a 10-year contract to run a community wellness hub, planned for West Smethwick Park in Tipton, West Midlands.

Due to open to the public in January 2021, the £5.2m facility will be owned by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and has been funded in part by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

At the heart of the developent will be a health and fitness element, designed to get the local community more physically active.

The hub will offer a large gym floor with five distinct fitness zones focusing on balance, strength, flexibility, cv and toning. It will also offer targeted community health and wellbeing activities – such as dance, group exercise classes and martial arts sessions.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure, councillor Bill Gavan, said: “The project as a whole is going to transform the park and a big part of that will be the superb leisure and heritage opportunities it’s going to bring.

"It will also be a stone’s throw from the new Commonwealth aquatics centre and another great thing for Smethwick to look forward to.”

Lynda Bateman, chair of the SLT board, added: “We continue to work hard in partnership with Sandwell Council to deliver the shared objectives of providing quality sport, leisure and community facilities and activity space for the whole neighbourhood to enjoy."