Bert Williams visits near-complete leisure centre
Former Wolves and England goalkeeper Bert Williams MBE has had a sneak preview of Bilston’s new £14.9 million leisure centre, which is named after him and is due to open later this autumn.
Ninety-one-year-old Bert joined Wolverhampton Mayor and ward member Councillor Bert Turner to survey the 5,600m² Bert Williams Leisure Centre, which is set to provide state-of-the-art facilities for all of the local community to enjoy.
Shepherd Construction is now just eight weeks’ away from completing the centre, with work now concentrating on installing the squash courts, completing work to the studio pool’s floating floor, and carrying out external landscaping.
The centre is due to open for the first time this autumn, and will provide four squash courts, sports hall, 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, sauna, dance studio, health and fitness suite that will boast 100 pieces of new equipment, crèche and meeting room.
The local area has already benefited from the leisure centre as Shepherd Construction has placed orders worth £5.9 million for materials and equipment with firms within the Wolverhampton City Council boundary during the building project. In addition 150 operatives from the West Midlands have been employed on the site throughout the project.
Craig Fletcher, Shepherd Construction’s project manager commented: “It was fantastic to see both Bert and the Mayor give the thumbs up to the project which is now in its final stages and will give so much pleasure to the local community for years’ to come.”
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “I am delighted that Bert enjoyed his sneak preview of the new leisure centre which has been named in his honour.
“I know he is very excited about its opening this autumn, and he is very much looking forward to welcoming local people to use it for the first time later this year.”