A PROPOSAL to build a multi-million pound sports facility in Ulverston is set to move into the next stage of development as the company in charge of running it announced plans to take over a rival leisure centre.

A total of £13m is set to be ploughed into developing Ulverston Leisure Centre into a new state-of-the-art facility with a 25m swimming pool, two fitness studios and a four court indoor sports hall.

There are also plans to create an indoor children's play area and for the public to share facilities with industrial giant GSK, who are looking to relocate their sports provision to the Priory Road site.

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The new Ulverston facility will be managed by Greenwich Leisure Ltd, a social enterprise which is merging with present operators North Country Leisure to oversee the project.

Derek Jones, partnership manager for NCL, announced that GLL could put in a bid for The Park Leisure Centre in Barrow, with rumours circulating that the Greengate Street premises might soon be available to buy.

He said: "We have heard that Barrow leisure centre might be going out to tender and we would be interested in putting a tender in if it does.

"If it became available we would be interested because we could start to support residents across south Cumbria.

"It makes sense but it is a tender exercise so we have to put our bid in and see if it works. It is early days but if it does come out we are very interested."

The public consultation period for the new leisure centre in Ulverston, came to an end two days ago with more than 1,000 people submitting their views on the development.

Concerns were raised about how often the public would be able to use the swimming pool and whether GSK Crown Green Bowls Club would lose their site should the company make the switch.

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However, overall feedback for the proposal was positive, with Ulverston Victoria High School praising the initiative in the hope that it could have an "impact on every child".

Ulverston mayor, Councillor Mark Wilson, said: "We are on the cusp of hopefully a situation that can create a state-of-the-art leisure facility.

"The majority of people seem to welcome the idea and I am pleased that they are looking at sports provision for the elderly and addressing intergenerational issues."

The proposal is now set to enter its second phase where ideas will be further developed and a more definitive list of services and facilities will be produced.

In spring next year, South Lakeland District Council and key partners will review the findings of phase two to summarise the consultation and finalise the costs, design and business plan for the project.

Nobody at Barrow Borough Council, which owns The Park Leisure Centre in Barrow, was available to comment on the status of the sports facility.