New youth and sports facilities for Toxteth

Multi-million pound plans to create new fitness and youth facilities together with a new home for Toxteth Fire Station  were submitted to the Big Lottery Fund on 28 February 2011 and the bid was successful.

The £4.8 million project will see Toxteth Sports Centre completely rebuilt with a new sports hall, fitness suite together with a climbing wall, multi activity room and dance/drama studio.

It will be funded by a £2.3 million grant from the lottery’s ‘Myplace’ scheme, together with £500,000 from the city council.

In addition, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service are spending £2 million relocating Toxteth Community Fire Station to the Upper Hill Street site from its present location on Upper Park Street.

The campus will be known as ‘Toxteth Firefit’, and builds upon the successful partnership between the city council and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service which has seen fitness equipment installed in some fire stations for use by local residents.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for the youth service, said: “This is an exciting and innovative project which will create top quality leisure and youth facilities as well as putting Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at the heart of the local community.

“The existing Sports Centre is looking tired and in need of major investment and this scheme will breathe new life into the whole site.”

Councillor Wendy Simon, cabinet member for leisure, said: “Our young people demand and deserve great facilities and this exciting project will mean we are able to provide exciting activities for them.”

Kieran Timmins, Assistant Chief Executive of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The project provides a great partnership for the regeneration of the whole area as well as creating outstanding sporting facilities and a fire station for the use of everyone in the community.

The current centre will close on 30th July 2011 and work is expected to start in August ready for completion in summer 2012.

Anyone who has booked and paid for activities, courts or a membership beyond this date should contact the centre at the earliest opportunity. If you were unable to contact the centre before its closure then please call 0151 233 6370 or e-mail your enquiry to lifestyles@liverpool.gov.uk  Please leave a contact telephone number and your membership number 'LDDxxxxxx'