Hattersley

Councillor Roy Oldham, the Executive Leader of Tameside Council, recently paid a visit to Hattersley’s Ken Ward Sports Centre (KWSC) to check on progress of the £3.1m Phase 2 development – ahead of its opening in May.

 
Part of Tameside Council’s commitment to providing top class sports and leisure facilities across the borough, the opening of the Centre comes hot on the heels of the launch of the new Tameside Gymnastics Centre at nearby Manley Grove in Mottram.

With the KWSC quickly becoming a highly popular and successful venue since its launch in 2006, the new development has a sound base to build on, with many local residents already involved in or providing support for a wide range of sport and leisure activities.

The KWSC is now set to build on this success by offer a vastly improved range of sport and leisure activities – similar to those enjoyed by other facilities throughout Tameside.

The Centre will feature a main sports hall, which will be viewable from upper areas and can seat up to 600 people for functions and events. Add to this a health suite with sauna and steam rooms, a dance room, lecture rooms and a lounge area, it’s not hard to forecast that the KWSC will become an even bigger attraction for residents and others across Tameside. 

The Centre will continue to be the home for the various teams that make up Hattersley FC and they will now be joined by other popular groups and facilities such as the Mottram and Hattersley Boxing Club and The Gym – creating a focal point for sport and leisure activity in the area.

Councillor Oldham commented: “The tremendous contribution local people make to sports development in Hattersley is widely recognised and is something we want to build on. This is why we have developed a unique arrangement where members of the community will sit on a local management board and work alongside Tameside Sports Trust, Tameside Council’s Sports Development Team and other partners – to ensure the KWSC continues to go from strength to strength.

“We are looking forward to the facility opening as it extends the opportunity for healthy pursuits and offers a quality venue for residents in this community and those further afield. I am delighted that the Council have been able to provide these first class facilities in the area.”