Bloxwich Leisure Centre users must go elsewhere during £24 million work

Walsall Council will seek to provide alternative provision for visitors to Bloxwich at Gala Baths, Darlaston and Education Development Centre at Rushall while the project is carried out.

But at Oak Park the new centre is being built on land near to the existing building, which will remain open until construction is completed.

The centres are part of a combined £23.8 million scheme which could see work start on Oak Park in Walsall within months and Bloxwich soon after.

A climbing wall, modern fitness suite and top-of-the-range squash courts are among the facilities planned for the leisure centres.

Images show glimpses of how Oak Park and Bloxwich will look, as part of multi-million pound plans in the borough.

Work on the combined proposals is due to start within the coming months for a planned completion by the end of 2015. At Oak Park, an eight-lane 25m pool, six-court sports hall, fitness suite, dance studio and meeting rooms are set to form part of the plans.

At Bloxwich, the new centre is poised to include a main six-lane pool, a four-court sports hall, spa and two squash courts. The transformation of the borough's leisure facilities has been agreed by Walsall Council, with bosses hailing the scheme as a big step forward.

Council leader Sean Coughlan said: "The hope is it will support our healthy living agenda. Clearly, like all other authorities, in Walsall we have problems with health and obesity. In reality we have to compete with what is around us.

"It is long-term – it will have long-term health benefits for Walsall. We are a council that meets the needs of communities."

Leisure chief Councillor Khizar Hussain has also welcomed the 'fantastic project'.

"The active living centres are a key part of our work and I am keen to see work start on site as soon as possible," Councillor Hussain added. "I would hope to start Oak Park in the autumn.

"Bloxwich will follow shortly afterwards, once council officers have spoken to Sport England and the Charity Commission."

The council said users of Bloxwich Leisure Centre would need to use alternative sites during the construction of the new building. Councillor Coughlan said the existing Oak Park facility will remain available.

"The existing centre will stay open, up until the new one is ready," he said.

"We would have liked to do the same at Bloxwich but this just isn't possible."

A government grant of £2m will go towards the total cost of the project.

The council will borrow the rest of the money and will shell out £1.39m a year in repayments – including interest – for 25 years.