Ceremony marks creation of top leisure facilities in Rugeley

A celebration to mark the installation of the roof at the new Rugeley swimming pool hall was held by Cannock Chase Council and its partners on Friday 14 December.

A ceremony traditionally takes place when the roof is put on a new building. Councillor Ray Easton, the Chairman of Cannock Chase District Council, laid a block and two young swimmers, Peter Sullivan from Chase Swimming Club, and Thomas Bourne from Phoenix Youth Swimming Club, switched on the lights on the Christmas tree on the roof of the new pool. The Christmas tree represented the piece of foliage that, since Viking times, has been placed on the roof of new buildings to bring good luck.

Cllr Ray Easton with 2 swimmers

Pictured above: Cllr Ray Easton with Peter Sullivan from Chase Swimming Club, and Thomas Bourne from Phoenix Youth Swimming Club

The Topping Off ceremony also saw a piece of the new pool hall laid by Cannock Chase Council Chairman Cllr Ray Easton.

Pictured above: Cannock Chase Council Chairman, Cllr Ray Easton lays a brick of the new pool hall.

Over 60 guests attended the event and included dignitaries from Cannock Chase Council, Staffordshire County Council, Sport England, Hagley Park Sports College, Fair Oak Business and Enterprise College, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent partnership, SMC Charter Architects, GF Tomlinson Building Ltd and local sports and community groups.

The £4.25 million project includes the new 25 metre, six lane swimming pool and extended fitness suite. Last month Government agency Sport England presented the Council with a cheque for £500,000 towards the facility.

Cannock Chase Council Chairman Cllr Ray Easton, who hosted the event, said: “The new facilities will be open to the public by the end of the spring which is exciting news for everyone.

“Rugeley will have a new swimming pool as well as an extended fitness suite. This will be a welcome addition to what is already a fantastic leisure centre.

“Swimming is an inclusive activity which sees all members of the community able to take part in a physical activity.

“This has truly been a team effort and all of the partners involved have worked tremendously hard to get to this stage.”

For more information contact:

Tom Hobbins
PR Officer
Cannock Chase Council
Tel: 01543 464495
Mob: 07837 200286
tomhobbins@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Norton Canes has just opened its new children's facility called Unit 13. It is part funded by the Parish Council for the next three years. It has sports facilities for 5-a-side football, netball and basketball.

The new unit will be managed by Koncas, the children's group. It was recognised early on that to be self-supporting it had to be opened up to other age groups.

For further enquiries or to make a booking ring:

The local Parish Office between 10.00am to 4.00pm on 01543 276812 or
June Davies on 01543 275032
Pauline Stabler on 01543 270502

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