George Carnall asset transfer completes

The Davyhulme leisure centre is set to reopen on a community-run basis, following the completion of an asset transfer by the local authority.

Trafford Council’s plans for a £35m redevelopment of the Lostock Road site were advanced in early 2018, but were ripped up when the Conservatives lost control of Trafford a few months later. Development plans for Turn Moss in Stretford also fell victim to an about-turn in policy around leisure facilities.

Consultation was thus reopened on the George H Carnall site, while the Urmston Leisure Centre at Bowfell Road was redeveloped as Move Urmston in a £7m project delivered by ISG.

The Carnall centre is intended to be a complementary offer to the grander offering at Move Urmston:  the Carnall site offers a gym, sports hall and squash courts, while Move Urmston boasts a 25m pool and climbing wall among its facilities.

Trafford Council has now handed over the running of the Davyhulme-based centre to the George Carnall Community Group after a special Community Asset Transfer was completed earlier this week with the signing of a 25-year lease.

The transfer was agreed by Trafford Council’s executive in October, the local authority signing off on £23,500 for immediate works to keep the centre fit for purpose, and agreeing to pay for any works up to £50,000 up to the end of 2022.

Trafford also committed to a £96,000 working capital loan to GCCG, part of which has been put to use with the hiring of Andy Brooks to manage the centre.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “The centre is now being run by the community, for the community. This will be an important community space and a huge asset to the local area in terms of health and wellbeing.

“Our thanks go to the Council staff and George Carnall Community Group members who have worked so very hard to make this happen. Trafford Council wishes everyone involved in the centre the best of luck with its future success.”