Work to improve the look of West Kirby Concourse and develop an additional leisure facility on an adjacent site could be in the pipeline.
A report being considered by councillors recommends that within two years, the local authority explores securing funding “for aesthetic improvement to the Leisure Centre and its immediate surround”.
In addition, it proposes that the former medical centre adjacent to the building is demolished within three years, with the site becoming “a new income generating leisure offer”.
The aim is to “create opportunities to think differently about how leisure and other Council services can be more ‘joined-up’ spatially and physically”.
The work would form part of the consultation which is set to take place on the West Kirby masterplan, which is looking at how to regenerate the town centre.
The recommendation follows a review by consultants of Wirral Council’s leisure facilities, which has concluded that a local authority trading company should be set up to run the centres, rather than it being done in-house.
It has found that, while the service “has done an excellent job with the available resources”, the current model “is not providing residents with an effective or attractive service” with “dated” facilities, due to financial pressures.
It adds: “The creation of a Local Authority Trading Company and/or outsourcing of the service would provide the Council with a significantly more efficient and effective means of delivering the service.”
The report recommends a detailed business plan be developed for a “transformational” programme of investment in leisure facilities.
It will be considered by councillors at a meeting on Thursday 23 January.
