ALMOST £70,000 is to be spent on 39 new pieces of equipment for the gym at Darwen Leisure Centre.

Borough leisure boss Damian Talbot said the fitness suite had been so successful that several items had worn out.

MORE TOP STORIES:

He made the announcement to Blackburn with Darwen full Council Forum in response to a question tabled by Whitehall ward Liberal Democrat David Foster.

Cllr Talbot said: “I am pleased to be able to announce the purchase of 39 new pieces of equipment for Darwen Leisure Centre gym costing £69,000.

“It will take approximately eight weeks to be built, delivered and installed.

“It is a consequence of the success story that Darwen Leisure Centre has become over the cost of five years that the equipment installed is inevitably showing signs of wear and tear.

“We now have a fantastic 2,600 members at the centre, up by more than 1,000 in the last two years.”

“In addition, five new rowing machines have already been purchased and installed and 13 pieces of fitness equipment have been repaired.”

The original equipment was purchased when the leisure centre, on The Green in Darwen, was first opened five years ago.

The equipment at the 80 station gym has a lifespan of between three and five years and the popularity of gym has meant some had worn out.

Among the 39 items being purchased are cardio-vascular equipment and weight resistance equipment.

Cllr Foster’s wife and fellow Whitehall councillor Karimeh Foster said: “This is good news but it is long overdue.

“Some of this equipment has been out of action for two months.

“This gym is a very important facility for Darwen people.

“It is good to get something new for Darwen.”

Sunnyhurst ward Labour councillor Brain Taylor, a 65-year-old regular user of the gum, said: “I am absolutely delighted. I use the cardio-vascular equipment three times a week and it is great that it is being replaced.

“This is a very popular gym at a very popular leisure centre and a lot of people like me will be very pleased.

“This new equipment will help keep Darwen fit and healthy.”

Located in the heart of Darwen this leisure centre has an 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool.

There is a teaching pool, a main gym with 80 pieces of equipment, a multi-purpose fitness studio with a wide range of fitness classes and a multi-use sports hall.

Several activity rooms are available for a range of courses and room hire.