Black Country water sports centre in birthday revamp
A water sports centre based near a Black Country beauty spot is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with plans to revamp its site to encourage new members.
More than 140 people regularly visit Dudley Water Sports Centre on the Lodge Farm Reservoir, next to Saltwells Nature Reserve, each week.
Water skiing, sailing and diving are among the activities that take place on the open water, off Highbridge Road, which overlooks Brierley Hill and the Merry Hill shopping centre. Dudley Sailing Club and Dudley Water Ski Club are both based at the Netherton centre alongside Dudley Dolphin and Nautilus Diving clubs.
Organisers now want to encourage more clubs to take advantage of the facilities.
Around £50,000 in grants from funding body Inspired Facilities is helping to pave the way for the scheme, with work due to start in the next week.
The main changing rooms building will be completely overhauled.
The centre's sports development officer, Karen Patchett, today said the building, which dates back five decades, was in need of refurbishment.
"We hope this work will lead to more people coming down and seeing what we do and trying out the sports," she said.
