A new leisure hub could be built in a town nestled between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as part of a £25m transformation of the area. New plans could lead to the regeneration of the waterfront area along the Erewash Canal in Long Eaton, while an improved events space could attract further opportunities to the town.
The new leisure hub would be based at West Park and Erewash Borough Council says it should benefit residents by providing an abundance of new employment opportunities. It is set to some as one of seven projects under the Long Eaton Town Deal.
Up to £25 million will be granted by the Conservative Government, with new leader Liz Truss at the helm, and the seven projects are currently under consideration. Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Board, says: "These projects may still be in the early stages but when they come to fruition they will provide improved leisure and recreation facilities for residents.
"The leisure hub would also attract more visitors to the park and the town as a whole."
The council says the plans for the park, which is on the edge of the town centre off Wilsthorpe Road, will be delivered in two parts. The first would involve the development of "a stunning waterfront alongside the Erewash Canal, including an area for seating to enjoy the park, as well as a facilities for refreshments and to launch small watercraft."
The second part of the project includes an improved events space, which will allow for a wider variety of events, with more car parking space to help encourage more people to visit the park more often. "This is just one part of the exciting proposals for the Long Eaton Town Deal," Mr Ledger adds, "and we look forward to making improvements to the town that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Match funding will help bring the total amount to around £30m. The other projects include layout changes at The Green, a town centre traffic congestion hotspot, including relocating bus bays and restricting certain vehicle movements, as well as improvements to the high street, including moving the market back to its historical market place site.
The former Box Office cinema, which is now derelict, will also be transformed into a cultural hub featuring a café, gallery, and auditorium for performance, film screenings, conferences and other arts-related social events, among other schemes.
Previously speaking of the projects councillor Carol Hart, the leader of Erewash Borough Council, added: "The magnitude of winning this funding is impossible to put into words.
"This news is fantastic and a testament to the hard work already put in, all with the help, of course, of local people and our business community. I am thrilled for Long Eaton and its residents.”
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