Smethwick based food bank weighing up bid to re-open doomed leisure centre

A late bid to save a doomed Sandwell leisure centre which has hosted a renowned weightlifting club for over 50 years has been made.

Trustees of United Hands Food Bank, which runs at Smethwick Cricket Club next to Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre, want to maintain the centre at no cost to Sandwell Council

The centre - named after Harry Mitchell of Smethwick based brewing dynasty M&B - hosted Warley Weightlifting Club for over 50 years until its closure in October last year - the club has trained British and Commonwealth champions.

The centre is set for demolition after councillors approved the move last month - Sandwell Council said the leisure centre was the “oldest and poorest” facility in the borough and would need at least £1.5m to repair it.

But Jas Singh Takhar, a trustee of the United Hands Food Bank, which meets every Monday, said they, and a consortium of business people in Sandwell wanted to re-open the centre and continue the operations of the weightlifting club.

He said: “Our plan would be to operate the centre, at no cost to the council, taking on responsibility for security and maintenance, bills, insurance and health and safety.

“It would see the foodbank, which is a successful community asset, run alongside the weightlifting club which would open seven days a week.

“The club has produced many national and international champions including Gian Singh Cheema who is a Commonwealth Champion and British Champion who continues to train young students, helping them achieve British championship awards.

“The centre acts as a legacy to the Mitchell family who donated the land in 1899 to build it, the facilities are ideal for our health programs, and our community members greatly value having access to local amenities

“We believe this proposal, which has been fully thought out and costed, offers a practical solution that preserves a valuable community resource, protects a historical building, and continues the important work we do for local residents.”

A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: ““Following an options appraisal, a recommendation was approved by Cabinet demolish the now vacant centre , to be followed by the proposed redevelopment of the site for new council housing to help provide much-needed new homes for Sandwell residents on the council’s waiting list.

“The planning brief, developed for the site in line with our Local Plan, proposes a new, healthy neighbourhood and community, comprising of a mix of apartments and townhouses, in keeping with the character of the area.

“The closure of the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre forms part of a wider programme of upgrades to the indoor sports and leisure provision in the south of Sandwell following the opening of the state-of-the-art Sandwell Aquatics Centre in July 2023, which is less than a 15-minute walk from this location.

“This ensures that Smethwick and Sandwell residents continue to have access to a world-class sports and leisure facility to support the needs of the local community.

“The council acknowledges the offer from the food bank and, while the Harry Mitchell site has been determined as not suitable for this use, we will continue to work with them to look at alternative options.”