Online petition launched campaigning for new Broomfields Leisure Centre facility

AN online petition campaigning for a new and improved Broomfields Leisure Centre at Appleton has been signed by around 1,500 people.

The centre, which local residents and councillors say has been “neglected” for years has still not fully re-opened since lockdown last March, despite a brand new 3G facility.
The online petition launched by local resident James Ducker states: “South Warrington is a thriving and rapidly expanding local community that is home to a wide demographic, from young children to the elderly, but, for far too long, has been deprived of a readily accessible, high-quality community sports facility befitting of an area of this size.
“For years now, Broomfields Leisure Centre has been left woefully neglected by the local authorities, its appalling facilities no longer fit for purpose, while new, state of the art leisure centres have cropped up in and around other areas of Warrington.
“Since the country went into lockdown in March due to the Covid-19 crisis, Broomfields Leisure Centre has still to re-open when other sites have, even though the social, physical and mental wellbeing and general health of people has never been more important. Given the dire state of the facilities, though, that is no surprise in these health-conscious times. Still, residents of south Warrington, and the local businesses who depended on Broomfields, should not be having to travel across to the north of the town in the hope of gaining access to acceptable facilities.
“It is time Warrington Borough Council, LiveWire, Bridgewater High School, local councillors and MPs come together to formulate a long-term vision for a new state of the art facility on a carefully reconfigured Broomfields site that also address the chronic access and parking issues that are becoming increasingly pronounced as the local population expands. A fantastic new 3G football pitch has recently been completed behind the leisure centre but, with the right funding and vision, the site could offer so much more than it currently does.”
Local cllr Sharon Harris added: “South Warrington residents need a leisure centre that is fit for purpose. As it currently stands, Broomfields Leisure Centre does not fit this brief. South Warrington has a huge number of residents whose needs are equal to those of residents in other parts of the Borough. As well as a poor leisure facility we have hardly any community facilities.”
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for leisure and community, Cllr Tony Higgins, said: “We recognise that Broomfields Leisure Centre is in need of improvements and we are continuing to work closely with LiveWire to explore refurbishment options for the site.
“Part of this work is identifying and securing funding. The council has recently invested in a fantastic new 3G Pitch at the centre, supported by significant funding from the Football Foundation.”
To sign the petition CLICK HERE