Demolition work under way at Portway

Date added: 16 January 2012

Remember our August Breakfast Club when you had the chance to meet Thomas Vale Construction, principal contractor for the £18m Portway Lifestyle Centre redevelopment? Well we're happy to say that work is now underway.

Demolition work is in full swing as Thomas Vale Construction knocks down Oldbury Leisure Centre, which closed at the end of last year.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and partners plan to open a replacement called Portway Lifestyle Centre on the site in 2013.

It will offer sport, leisure, social care and health facilities including a GP surgery: Tividale Family Practice.

Sandwell Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for strategic resources Councillor Steve Eling said: "The start of demolition work is a major milestone for the project and a big step forward in the regeneration of the borough.

"The lifestyle centre will be a major asset to the local community, as well as further afield, giving equal access to people with disabilities."

The council and Sandwell Leisure Trust, which will run the centre, are working on the scheme alongside Sandwell Primary Care Trust and Sandwell Local Improvement Trust (LIFTCo). Sport England has also invested in the project.

One of the few venues of its type in the country, Portway will have a cafe, four-court sports hall, hydrotherapy pool for rehabilitation and other therapeutic purposes, a climbing wall, dance studio, fitness suite and full-sized, all-weather pitch for senior, junior and 5-a-side football.

There will be ample parking on site and every entrance, exit and corridor in the building will be fully accessible to people with a disability.

Thomas Vale will be taking on apprentices during the scheme as well as offering opportunities for work experience. The contractor is also committed to working with local businesses on the project wherever possible, having taken part in a 'meet the buyer' session with finditinsandwell members at our August Breakfast Club.

You can view current business opportunities with Thomas Vale on our special procurement page: www.finditinsandwell.co.uk/BusinessGroup/BusinessGroup.aspx?groupid=125.