August launch for new Deeside facilities

An 80-station fitness suite is among some of the new facilities to be unveiled next month as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment at Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry.

The gym - in addition to two fitness studios, a toning studio and new changing rooms - are part of phase two of improvements being carried out at the facility and will open 23 August. A day spa also forms part of the second stage and is due to be launched in January 2012. It will feature a herb sauna; a crystal steamroom; a salt grotto; and treatment rooms.

Alliance Leisure and Flintshire County Council (FCC) are working to deliver the renovation of Deeside Leisure Centre, which saw the first phase - new floodlit five-a-side pitches - unveiled in late 2010. A third phase is also being undertaken, which will transform the old ice rink into an extreme sports facility boasting a 1,452sq m (15,629sq ft) wooden skate park.

Soft play facilities; an indoor high ropes course; and a climbing wall and bouldering tower will also feature as part of phase three, due to commence shortly and open in January 2012. A FCC spokesperson said: "From the already delivered five a side football pitches to the proposed new fitness suite and spa, this development programme is designed to bring the best in modern leisure facilities for all age groups.

"[The phased approach] is also providing the benefit of a much faster project delivery than would ordinarily be the case if separate more traditional construction packages had been procured as is often the case with local authority developments." Image: Benkid77