A decades-old ‘tired’ Exeter leisure centre will get a £6million makeover within the next two years after city planners this week agreed the funding.
A 1980s Exeter leisure centre that looks and feels like ‘an institution’ is to get a £6million transformation after councillors decided it couldn’t be left as it is, writes local democracy reporter Guy Henderson.
Pictured here is the existing Wonford Sports Centre.
Image Google Maps.
“Something needs to be done,” said Cllr Tony Wardle (Lab, Priory) as the full city council discussed the future of the Wonford Leisure Centre.
“Without significant investment the building would have to close, and I don’t think anyone in the city wants that to happen.
“It’s a 1980s building that looks like an institution. The talking about it has been going on for years and the community has waited long enough.
“Let’s get on with it.”
A computer-generated image of how the new leisure centre could look.
Image: Exeter City Council.
Councillors voted by a majority to go ahead with the project, which will be partly paid for by developers building homes around the city who are required to hand over cash to improve facilities in the areas around their sites.
Sport England is also prepared to chip in to create the new ‘hub’ for Wonford, which has some of the poorest health figures in the city and lowest levels of physical activity.
The project will include the demolition of the existing gym, Phoenix Centre and outdoor changing rooms and the building of a new hub and football changing facilities. There will also be a cafe, studio and gym.
Councillors heard that a decision had to be made on the funding by the end of April, and the project as a whole must be completed by summer 2028 to qualify for the funding.
“It is transformational,” said the council’s director for place Ian Collinson. “It’s about people, it’s about community, it’s about activity, sport and wellbeing.”
Several councillors raised concerns about the level of community involvement, and how the new centre would be run, but they were urged to back the revamp.
“The community is fully behind it,” said Cllr Yvonne Atkinson (Lab, Alphington). “It has been a long time coming, and the community has been with the council from the off.”
And Cllr Bob Foale (Lab, Alphington) told the meeting: “I first used this facility 30 years ago and it was tired then. Now it is no longer fit for purpose.
“The people of Wonford and the wider part of Exeter need and deserve the sort of facility that is being discussed.”
