Customers are being asked to have their say about revised opening hours at Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre.

The changes will see a moderate reduction to Blakenhall's public opening times as part of Wolverhampton City Council's plans to save £134 million by 2019.

From 1 April, 2015, the centre will be open to the public for 58 hours per week, compared to 75 at present, with the new opening arrangements structured to meet the centre's busier periods.

In addition, Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre will continue to be available outside normal public opening hours to community groups and organisations which hold regular meetings and activities at the centre.

Customers are being invited to help determine the new opening arrangements by completing a short survey presenting 2 different possible timetables available online at Type=links;Linkid=5919;Title=Public Consultation - Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre Opening Times;Target=_blank; or from the centre itself. The survey closes on Monday 23 March, 2015.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "We do not want to have to reduce public opening hours at Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre but the fact is the council must make efficiencies to meet the unprecedented financial challenge it is facing because of Government cutbacks.

"It's important to stress that these proposals will only lead to a small reduction in public opening hours at Blakenhall, and as the new times will be structured around the centre's busier periods I'm confident that the majority of our customers won't notice any real difference.

"In addition, we are committed to ensuring that community groups who use the centre regularly for meetings and other activities will be able to access the building outside public opening hours.

"Clearly we want to agree the best possible arrangements for our customers, so I'd urge people to complete the survey and tell us which of the 2 timetables they would prefer us to introduce."

Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre offers a wide range of sports, fitness and community facilities. It has standard and Easyline gyms, a toning suite, hall sports including for badminton, indoor bowls and table tennis, multi-purpose function and meeting rooms for hire, community kitchen and crèche.

The centre also houses Blakenhall Library and a popular, new look cafè.

For more information about Blakenhall Community and Healthy Living Centre, please call 01902 555460.

  • released: Wednesday 11 March, 2015