When Creswell Leisure Centre closed its doors in 2016, many in the community thought the village would never see a leisure facility again.
But, local councillor Duncan McGregor had other ideas. As soon as the facility closed, he was looking at proposals and determined to bring a brand new leisure facility back to the village.
One that would not only provide people with the chance to participate in an active and healthy lifestyle, but one that could link with the importance of the Crags and provide an educational resource.
It has taken just over five years but Duncan’s hard work has paid off as work is due to start on the £2million development located on Colliery Road, adjacent to the Model Village.
Duncan McGregor said, “I am delighted to finally be able to say that work is about to start. It would have started sooner if it was not for the pandemic, but I am hopeful that we will be up and running by this time next year.”
Working with partners, the project has been funded through Bolsover District Council, Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council, Viridor, Derbyshire County Council, Big Local and Bolsover Partnership.
“I never wanted to see the closure of the leisure centre, but once it was confirmed we set about looking what we could do to provide something in the village. As your local Labour councillor, this has been at the top of my priority list and after a lot of hard work and effort I am extremely pleased to say we will finally be getting our leisure facility back, added Cllr McGregor.
“We want the facility to be as flexible as possible and that is what we are going to get. It will provide the fitness enthusiast with a venue to workout, whilst offering a more social setting for people and groups to meet, have a chat and enjoy a cuppa whilst still being active and provide a setting for educational visits.
“I would like to thank Steve Fritchley, Rita Turner and all my colleagues on both Bolsover District Council and Elmton-with-Creswell Parish Council for their support in getting this project to where it is today.”
What the new centre will offer
Gym
A 27 station gym will provide the fitness enthusiast with the chance to workout to their hearts content on state-of-the-art equipment. In addition to the general public sessions, there will also be sessions for junior gym, personal training and health referral to ensure the whole community is catered for.
Group exercise studio
A range of classes will take place in the studio from aerobics to RPM and Yoga to HIIT providing a wide range of activities and classes to suit all ages and abilities.
Sports Hall
This flexible space will allow for two badminton courts to be set up whilst also creating the opportunity to provide a diverse range of activities. These could include short mat bowls, skittles, kurling, shuffleboard and table tennis plus much more.
Climbing wall and caving experience
The climbing wall and caving experience will not only provide a physical activity away from the norm, but also provide a direct link with Creswell Crags. A visual timeline of the Crags will be added to the climbing wall ensuring there is an educational link and users are ‘learning by stealth’.
Soft play zone
This multi-tiered soft play kingdom will provide an adventure for children up to the age of 12. With a range of educational, fun and stimulating equipment.
Café
And after exerting all that energy, what better way to re-fuel than stopping off in the brand new café. The bright and modern café will provide a range of healthy snacks, meals and drinks where you can relax after your workout or meet up with friends and family.