OPINION: People Just Don’t Get Why Crowtree Leisure Centre Closed

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Why did Crowtree Leisure Centre Close Down?

Built in the 1980’s it was a state of the art facility, that replaced the rotting high street baths. One of the first of its kind in the North East, equipped with an ice rink, bowling green and infamous wave pool with slides.

It was a very popular place for the kids and parents of all ages while growing up with Friday night discos and parties. It was accessible and fun. Standing there for decades and weathering the storm, the building started to fall into disrepair.

Each year, bills for maintenance and repair, doubled to the point the cost of maintaining it was more than building a new centre.

Profits stopped covering the bills and the decision was made to build the new Sunderland Aquatic Centre. By 2013, demolition had started leaving the public devastated. They flocked elsewhere to the likes of Newcastle to use similar facilities for the time being.

Nearly 10 years later, the demand is higher than ever for new recreational and leisure facilities that are accessible and affordable to the people of Sunderland.

So what’s the problem?