Newsroom Archive

The gym was temporarily moved to the Tennis Centre whilst refurbishment work was carried out to redecorate the interior and work undertaken to the exterior of the building to ensure a significant difference to the carbon footprint of the building. Essential maintenance work to the swimming pool continues with an expected reopening date of the swimming pool this summer.

Councillor Carolyn Healy (Labour), Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Green Spaces, Heritage and Leisure said: 

“It’s great to see users and aspirations members back in the gym at the main site utilising the facilities. This planned investment into our leisure services will ensure that we are offering facilities to benefit the health and wellbeing of our residents. We continue to work towards our target of our operations to be carbon neutral by 2030. The work at Oakengates Leisure Centre is part of a wider package of activity in our Carbon Neutral plan."

Steven Owen, Managing Director of Pave Aways said: 

“We're thrilled to team up with Telford & Wrekin Council in their drive for net-zero emissions. Pave Aways’ focus on implementing sustainable, energy-efficient solutions fits hand-in-hand with the aim to extend the longevity of our fantastic public facilities. Through our partnership, we're also supporting the local economy by utilising a of network sub-contractors and suppliers within the region. ” 

The essential maintenance work underway at Oakengates Leisure Centre swimming pool includes:

•New Air Source Heat Pump installation within plant room

•Refurb of the pool plant and pool surround 

•New thermally improved doors to pool

•Upgrade to the thermal fabric of the pool roof

•Mechanical and electrical upgrade to pool plant room

The building fabric improvements will reduce energy consumption and complement existing on-site solar electricity panels.  In order to reach net zero, all the council's existing buildings must become zero-carbon, with good levels of energy efficiency and low-carbon heating. To achieve this the following changes will be required: 

•Energy efficiency. All buildings need sufficient improvements to their fabric-efficiency to enable cost-effective use of low-carbon heating, and ideally reduce heating costs significantly. The energy demand for hot water, lighting and appliances also needs to be reduced substantially.

•Low-carbon heating. Buildings need to be heated by on-site or communal heating systems which produce zero direct emissions and, ultimately, zero indirect emissions.

•On-site generation. Install on-site renewables (such as solar electricity panels or solar thermal) and energy storage to support decarbonisation of the grid and reduce energy costs.

Elsewhere on site at Oakengates Leisure Centre, the sports hall, studio, 3G pitch, track and tennis centre will remain open throughout the duration of the works to the swimming pool.

Oakengates Leisure Centre is part of the Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure Services portfolio within the borough which includes seven leisure facilities, Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre, Telford Ice Rink and Telford Town Park.  More information about the range of activities on offer can be found at www.telfordandwrekinleisure.co.uk

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Pictured (l to r) 

Andy Pagett, Site Manager Pave Aways, Cllr Carolyn Healy, Stuart Walker, Leisure Operations Manager Telford & Wrekin Council and Victoria Lawson, Commercial Director Pave Aways