“IT’S the best astroturf I have ever stood on!” declared MP Nadhim Zahawi after he officially opened the Greig Leisure Centre in Alcester on Friday.
His delight reflected the joy of the assembled gathering, there to mark the end of ‘Stage 1’ of the Greig project, a project that had taken some 30 years to come fully to fruition.
“It’s wonderful to be here at this extraordinary community leisure facility and I thank Stratford District Council for the energy and resources they have put into this remarkable, accessible and affordable complex for the people of Alcester,” said the Stratford MP.
District and Town Councillor Mark Cargill said the grand opening of the leisure centre on Kinwarton Road was the result of a very long campaign.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work going back over many years,” he said.
“It’s ten years since the Greig Memorial Hall was closed and we have seen the sad decline of the leisure centre too.
“But thanks to the huge investment by Stratford District Council – some £500,000 – we are in a position to say we have completed Stage One of the project.
“Stage Two is looking at how we can re-open the memorial hall. The town council is looking at possible options, and we have some grand plans, to make it into a real community facility for the people of Alcester.”
District Coun Susan Juned said the opening was the result of some 30 years of effort and often fraught negotiations with the Greig Trustees before the district took control of the complex.
“This is a fabulous day – it’s been a long process with a lot of anger along the way but we have come out of it at the end.”
The Mayor of Alcester, Coun Gill Forman, said all that was needed now was for the people of Alcester to support the new centre, which is run by Everyone Active and features a large sports hall, dance studio, gym and astroturf pitch.
“Please come and use it,” she said.
“The district has spent a lot of money improving it and the facilities are excellent.”
