Dudley Council has completed a £1.4m revamp of its three leisure centres.

Both the Halesown Leisure Centre and Dudley Leisure Centre have reopened to the public following upgrades to their fitness suites. Plans for the Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge are being finalised and work on the facility is expected to be completed in February 2009.

All three leisure centres are owned and operated by the council, who also joint funded the project with Alliance Leisure. Construction work was carried out by Creatability builders.

After a £320,000 refurbishment the Dudley Leisure Centre's Lifestyle Gym was doubled in size to 260sq m (2,798sq ft) so it could accommodate 41 pieces of equipment, as opposed to 26. Similarly, the Halesown's fitness suite was expanded by 180sq m (1,937sq ft).

The most extensive upgrade is yet to be started. The revamp of the Crystal Leisure Centre will cost £800,000 and will include an expansion of the fitness suite to feature 53 pieces of equipment – almost double the amount in the existing facility.

Its multi-purpose sports area will also be converted into a dance studio and a multi-use room will become a soft play area.

The Crystal Leisure Centre will remain open during the refurbishment and the existing gym will be moved to another location on-site.

Image: New equipment at Halesowen Leisure Centre's gym, which overlooks the centre's swimming pool