A service road for the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre has been constructed off Holywell Hill in St Albans.
The original designs for the service road had it crossing the car park and running very close to the Abbey Theatre. The theatre was concerned that the road layout could affect their future expansion plans. There were also concerns expressed about the safety of car park users. St Albans City & District Council therefore worked with the county council highways team on a new road layout coming directly off Holywell Hill.
The new service road designs also resulted in financial savings. These savings have been used to finance environmentally friendly solar panels on the roof of the leisure centre. The panels had been removed from the earlier plans to allow the building of two extra lanes in the main swimming pool.
Cllr Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage at the Council commented: “It’s great to see the new service road completed. I am very glad we were able to find a way to ensure the Abbey Theatre’s future expansion possibilities are not curtailed. I’m also pleased to have found a way to save money on the road to put towards solar panels at the new Westminster Lodge. The new service road layout also means that we are able to save more of the mature trees on the site. We are also able to avoid delivery lorries driving through the car park with all the potential safety issues that that would have entailed. It’s definitely a win win situation.”
Paul Davidson, Chairman of the Abbey Theatre, said: “This short, direct route has always seemed the most sensible solution and it will save the theatre from considerable disruption and long-term constraints.”
The new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre is due to open in November. For membership information, please visit everyoneactive.com/westminsterlodge, or call 08450 306030.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage, St Albans City & District Council, Tel: 01582 764688.
Contact for the media:
Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819572, E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk