Approval Granted for New Gym and Artificial Football Pitches

A fitness facility that ceased operations 18 months ago is slated to reopen, featuring a new gymnasium and an artificial football pitch, following a £6 million upgrade. The City of Wolverhampton Council has granted approval to Hamilton Leisure for undertaking these works at the site previously known as the Chris Jewkes Fitness Centre, located in Tettenhall. Additionally, the venue will incorporate updated changing rooms, a café, physiotherapy suites, and an expanded parking area. Old Wulfrrunians FC has endorsed this project, intending to utilize the artificial pitches for its junior football clubs. This development, which involves replacing two current pitches, had previously faced opposition from Sport England, the governmental organization tasked with safeguarding playing fields. However, Old Wulfrunians stated that the previous pitches frequently suffered from waterlogging and were in such disrepair that they contributed to the site’s “poor reputation.” The club reported that matches were consistently cancelled from October each year due to worries regarding the condition of the playing surfaces. Although the location is situated within protected Green Belt land, councillors concurred that an exemption for this construction was justifiable, as the community benefits generated “very special circumstances.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on local government bodies and other public service entities, collected this information. For updates, follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country across BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material on external websites. Information on our external linking policy is available.