A Liverpool Council cabinet member has admitted to being “really shocked” by the state of a much-delayed leisure centre.
Peter Lloyd Leisure Centre in Tuebrook has been lumbered with lengthy delays and is expected to reopen to the public in September. A further £1m is being spent by Liverpool Council on the site to get it back open after a number of setbacks.
Cllr Harry Doyle, cabinet member for culture and visitor economy, told a meeting of a select committee that he wanted to see the site reopened in the Autumn after being delayed enough. The Knotty Ash councillor has now revealed his shock at the condition the popular centre is in after being closed since the coronavirus pandemic began.
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In a video posted by Liverpool Council of a site visit with Cllr Doyle, the cabinet member said: “I know a lot of people are disappointed and angry that Peter Lloyd is still closed”. However, he said he was “proud” that the local authority was seeing what it could do to bring centres “up to scratch.” The Lifestyles centre on Bankfield Road had been expected to open in the Autumn of last year before Cllr Doyle confirmed complications had arisen with the works, resulting in a further set back.
The pacing of the project has even attracted criticism from Mayor Joanne Anderson, who said progress in Tuebrook had not been good enough. On his walk around the centre that showed damage to the main hall floor, Cllr Doyle said: “I myself am really shocked by what I’ve seen. The hall in here, the floor’s not even, there’s more water in the hall than there is in the pool, but we’re investing in bringing this centre up to scratch.”
Site contractors Kier have been tasked with ascertaining what can be completed by the September deadline as well as a timescale for all required works.
Cllr Doyle added: “I can’t wait for these doors to reopen, please do bear with us, I really do apologise for the delay but know we are absolutely committed to our Peter Lloyd centre.” Capital investment of £500,000 has already been invested into the site by Liverpool Council which Cllr Doyle had previously said underlined the local authority’s commitment to Peter Lloyd.
Other Lifestyles centres which have been shut since the start of the pandemic, Everton Park and Park Road, were able to reopen to visitors last year.
