Sale Sports Centre Faces Huge Repair Bill After New Year Flood Damage

A sports centre in Sale flooded on New Year’s Day, causing thousands of pounds in damages. Walton Park Sports Centre serves over 2,500 people and key areas, including the gymnasium, were flooded. The car park often becomes “like a lake.”

The centre hosts several clubs, including Trafford Rowing Club and Trafford School of Gymnastics. Plus, an indoor football hub exists, and Steve Dodson runs Trafford Weight Training Club there.

Organizers cite ongoing car park issues, and the access road, Raglan Road, also floods. The council does not maintain Raglan Road, stating it’s not their responsibility.

James Holmes, who manages the football centre, stated the car park floods regularly, believing poor drainage causes this. The New Year’s flood entered the building and water flooded the gymnastics area notably.

Steve Dodson has run the gym for 35 years and is 63 years old. The building stored grain during World War II, and the gymnastics club has been there for 42 years.

The council managed it until 2010, then current management took over. They await insurance payment for flood damage, and James and Steve say the building needed repair.

Renovation plans date back to 2007, with a proposed £500,000 renovation. Leisure bosses wanted to upgrade half the building and planned to demolish the other half, which included the football courts.

Users objected to losing the football courts, as this would prevent half of them using it. Maintaining the building has been hard, but James and Steve want to continue despite this. Many people depend on the sports facility, and they feel they have to continue.