The charitable trust which runs the council's leisure centres has said options are being explored for Middlewich following the closure of the town's facilities.

Middlewich Leisure Centre closed this summer.

Since then Everybody Health and Leisure, which ran the Middlewich centre, has taken over Simply Gym on West Street in Crewe.

Everybody Health and Leisure, which ran the Middlewich centre, has taken over Simply Gym on West Street in Crewe. (Image: Belinda Ryan, LDRS)

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked why the trust had opened another leisure facility in Crewe, which already has the Lifestyle Centre, but not made alternative provision in Middlewich.

Cllr Andrew Kolker, who is chair of trustees at Everybody Health and Leisure (EHL) said the investment opportunity in Crewe was not connected to the recent changes in provision in the Middlewich area.

"Unfortunately, last November we were served with six-months' notice to vacate the site at Middlewich Leisure Centre, as the building is owned by the school and we had no long-term arrangement in place," he said.

"Whilst we worked closely with them to explore future opportunities, there was not a sustainable option for our charity to remain involved in the delivery at that site.

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"As such, we are pro-actively exploring future sustainable health and leisure investments for premises/delivery in the town of Middlewich.

"Our board of trustees will be reviewing options later this year."

He said EHL was delighted to have taken over the additional facility in Crewe – which has been rebranded as Everybody @ Crewe West.

"After a few days of change-over we successfully reopened the site on Saturday morning, welcoming hundreds of returning members and local residents," said Cllr Kolker.

"This investment aligns with the priorities of our charity – to extend our reach to the communities of Crewe, aligned to the identified health and social inequalities and needs for the local area.

"This follows the local authority strategic leisure review in 2023 and subsequently we have invested in both Macclesfield and Crewe.

"We believe Crewe West will be an important strategic site for our charity to work with other local partners in the years ahead – to offer an increased range of local health and fitness facilities, along with further targeted wellbeing services to those who will most benefit from them."