Councillors give green light to Colchester's Leisure World plans (From Essex County Standard)

Councillors give green light to Colchester's Leisure World plans

11:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

PLANS to upgrade the reception area of Colchester's Leisure World have received unanimous backing.

Councillors backed the proposals, which are part of a £1.6million revamp of the Cowdray Avenue leisure centre.

Last night, members of the planning committee considered plans to expand the reception area and to include a new cafe where the existing entrance is.

Nick Barlow, borough councillor for Castle, said: “In terms of planning, the design is acceptable and is in-keeping with the existing building and I have no objections to it.”

Marcus Harrington, borough member for West Bergholt and Eight Ash Green, added he was happy to see more spots for cyclists to leave their bikes.

Jon Manning, deputy chairman of the committee, also backed plans to upgrade the centre, but called for bus companies to include it on their routes more regularly.

“Leisure World is somewhere we should be attracting more people to come to,” he said.

“It should be part of a bus route more than once a day.

“That would be an easy way to increase foot fall, but I am aware that is not in this committee’s remit.”

Other plans, which were not considered by the committee, include doubling the size of the gym and building a dance studio.