£40m leisure centre set to receive funding

OUTER WEST HASN'T HAD A POOL SINCE 2020

- By DANIEL HOLLAND

A £40 million funding package to keep hopes of a new leisure centre in Newcastle alive has been signed off.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed earlier this week how the expected costs of building a major sports complex in West Denton had spiralled further.

It comes after a series of setbacks and delays to have afflicted Newcastle City Council’s proposed facility, which was meant to open in summer 2024 but is not even under construction yet.

Amid concerns about the escalating cost of the scheme to taxpayers, which has jumped from an original £22.3 million in 2021 to £39.93 million today, Lib Dem opposition councillors mounted a special call-in procedure over the latest public funding request.

After a behind-closed-doors hearing on Thursday evening, which the press and public were barred from attending, it has now been confirmed that the £40 million investment will be allowed to proceed as planned.

The outer west of Newcastle has been without a swimming pool since the former pool on the West Denton Way site was closed in 2020 by operator GLL.