THE first stage of work for a long-awaited leisure centre in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, started yesterday.

The planned leisure centre with a swimming pool, gym, library and customer service point, will be built on land currently part of All Saints Academy on Myton Road.

The centre will include exercise studios as well as the pool and gym and a pedestrian plaza area near the heart of the building, which will house the foyer, cafe and public library with a customer service kiosk.

Residents of the new-build town have campaigned for years for their own leisure facility, with the only centre in the area being a privately-run Bannatyne Gym.

And work has finally started on diverting underground utilities services to prepare for the construction of the new centre, with road diversions in place.

The diversions are expected to be completed by Easter weekend, followed by the construction of a new on site car park, which will then pave the way for the leisure centre itself to be built on the existing Academy car park.

The footpath to the front of the academy, on Blair Avenue, will be closed throughout all phases of these works, and there will be a temporary pedestrian crossing in place near the entrance to Roseville Care Centre to ensure people can cross the road safely.

The bus stop to the front of the academy will also be out of use for the duration of the works, and passengers are advised to use the nearby bus stop at Tesco in Myton Road.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Borough Council, said: “The centre, with its swimming pools, health and fitness suite, gym, community access library and customer service point, is going to be a great facility for local people.

“We’re delighted to be making a start on the necessary utilities diversions for the centre, and will be doing everything we can to keep disruption and inconvenience to a minimum.”

The Ingleby Barwick leisure facility will be operated by Tees Active Leisure, which already operates three centres in the area on behalf of Stockton Council.