Residents to receive £20m of enjoyment

11:16am Tuesday 1st November 2005

A NEW £20m leisure centre has been given the go-ahead.

Plans for the Eltham Centre, Archery Road, Eltham, were approved by Greenwich Council's Planning Board at a meeting last Thursday.

Outline planning permission to turn the site into a leisure facility was granted in 2001, since when the council has been developing the final plans.

The centre, which is expected to open in the autumn of 2007, will include two swimming pools, a gym, dance studio and library.

Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts said: "This development will provide real benefits for residents in Eltham. It will offer first-class leisure, education and community facilities and will provide much easier access to council services.

"This underlines our commitment to invigorate Eltham town centre and improve facilities for residents."

Opposition councillors also welcomed the news though some are still concerned about possible traffic congestion.

Conservative Eltham north Councillor Dermot Poston said: "I hope residents in the area will be properly consulted to enable these issues to be resolved in a satisfactory manner."

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