A Look into the future - the sports centre as it will appear from Centenary Way.
Work on Burnley's £676,000 sports centre should begin next August if the Ministry of Housing and Local Government approves a loan next month. Plans for the sports and recreation centre were given the go-ahead by members of the town council's Recreational Facilities Committee on Wednesday night, and have been sent to the Ministry for loan sanction consideration.
The ambitious scheme is being helped off the ground by the £350,000 gift to the town in 1966 by Mr. William Thompson and his sister, Miss Sarah Whitham Thompson. The centre, which will be built on the two car parks near to the Magistrates' Court is expected to take about two years to complete. It will comprise an ASA standard swimming pool, two sports halls, six squash courts, and two practice rooms which can be used for such sports as table tennis, judo and wrestling. There will also be accommodation for spectators, a refreshment area, club rooms and a bar. Included in the scheme is a multi-storey car park to be built on the site of the former transport garage. This is expected to cost in the region of £310,000.
Mr. Fred Staziker (Deputy Borough Architect), who submitted the plans, commented: "If we want to be considered for loan sanctions in 1971, then we shall have to submit the plans for consideration in October or November." He said that they had the full backing of the North West Sports Council, which has said that the scheme should take priority over any others.
The centre will cut right across Grimshaw Street. It will provide Burnley with one of the finest indoor entertainment areas for a town of its size. It has been designed by the Architect's department of the Borough Surveyor's office, under the direction of Mr. E. C. Ashby (Borough Surveyor) and Mr. Staziker. Mr. Staziker added: "We will be taking into account the need for disabled people to use these premises. We shall make it easy for people in wheelchairs to get into the building, and there will also be lifts to take them to upper floors."
The multi-storey car park will more than compensate for the two car parks on which the centre will be built. During the day it will be available for general use and in the evening and at weekend by visitors to the sports centre.