Bridlington '˜is on the up' as it hails its new £25m landmark

ONE of Yorkshire's most deprived seaside towns is finally turning a corner, a council leader said today, with a new £25m leisure centre marking a milestone in its regeneration.
Project manager Adam Holmes at the £25m East Riding Leisure Centre which opens on May 23Project manager Adam Holmes at the £25m East Riding Leisure Centre which opens on May 23
Project manager Adam Holmes at the £25m East Riding Leisure Centre which opens on May 23

The near completion of work on East Riding Leisure Bridlington comes as plans went in for an 80-bedroomed Premier Inn next door and confidence that the latest attempt to build a Marina will bear fruit.

“It’s a town on the up,” said East Riding council leader Coun Steve Parnaby. “It’s turning a corner, a long corner and it will take some time, but we are heading in the right direction.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If granted the Premier Inn earmarked for the council-owned Beaconsfield car park, a stone’s throw from the Leisure Centre, will be the first new hotel to be built in the town since 1935.

Today the council unveiled facilities in the sleek new building, which will open to the public on May 23, with the hope of attracting 250,000 visitors in the first year.

It replaces Leisure World, which was demolished in 2014.

The building has a central “street” and people will be encouraged to have a wander round, see the facilities on offer which includes a fun “Splash Zone” with interactive slides, climbing wall, and a cafe with panoramic views out to the North Sea and terraced seating outside.

A 25m six-lane swimming pool and sports hall, which can fit in five-a-side and badminton matches alongside each other, are also on offer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Centre manager Adam Mainprize said: “It’s not just for people who want to participate in sport - there is now a fantastic area to socialise with friends.”

Swimmers will be able to use the pool throughout the week, he said, and the Splash Zone will be open from 11am every day.

Two swimming clubs will use the pool, and they hope new timing systems will attract others. Mr Mainprize said: “It was a bit of a standing joke that members could have unlimited swimming between Tuesday and Thursday 8pm to 10pm in the evening but now it is unlimited at any time, other than the big galas when we will close the pool for a couple of hours in the afternoon.”

Although the centre is scheduled to run a deficit this year, they expect to make a £50,000 to £100,000 surplus in 2017-18. There will be 40 to 50 new staff, mainly part-timers. Built by BAM Construction, it was funded by the council to the tune of £21m with another £4m from the Coastal Communities Fund and Sports England and was on budget and ahead of schedule.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun Parnaby said: “It’s a jewel in our crown as far as leisure centres go. It has everything and more than you would expect and this and what we have done in recent years has been a major influence on Premier Inn investing.

“It will not only bring new people in but make people want to come back. “

He said a new road would be built going across Hilderthorpe Road “any time now”, adding: “You will continue to see things happening now.”