WORK has started on the Wyre Forest's new leisure centre which will soon take shape on the former British Sugar site at Silverwoods, Kidderminster.

Today (Wednesday), local school children, councillors and business members gathered to mark the start of the construction for the leisure centre, due to open in summer 2016.

Councillor Marcus Hart, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council, said: “This major project is about providing first class leisure and sports facilities in a modern energy efficient building and this ceremony will mark the start of the next stage of achieving this aim. The new leisure centre project is also about saving the Council and tax payers money. We know this we be more than £390,000 a year, but if beneficial interest rates continue, there may be a further saving of up to £200,000 a year.”

The new centre, which will be designed, built, operated, and maintained by Places for People Leisure after they were awarded a 25-year contract, will include a six-lane 25m swimming pool, learner pool, dance studios, sports hall, climbing wall, fitness suite, and small-sided outdoor football pitches. A café with viewing facilities, a children’s play area and a health suite equipped with sauna and steam room will also be available.

Peter Kirkham, development director at Places for People Leisure, said: “Places for People Leisure in conjunction with its consortium team are delighted to partner Wyre Forest Council to design, develop and operate their new state of the art facility which will cater to all sectors of the community and help to increase in participation, which is very much in line with both Sport England and the Councils’ objectives."

Those in attendance on Wednesday to mark the start of work included pupils from Birchen Coppice Primary School and Foley Park Community Primary School, who buried a time capsule as part of the ceremony.

Representatives from Wyre Forest District Council, Places for People Leisure, Pellikaan Construction and Roberts Limbrick architects were also involved with the ceremony. Artwork from the students of the two schools were on display, occupying the hoarding boards surrounding the construction site.