PLans have been submitted to Rochdale Council to convert the former Mecca building in the Town Centre into an indoor sports hall for use including football, cricket and gymnasiumwhile retaining the existing bar and restaurant facilities
The building on Smith Street has been vacant since last summer, having closed after 20 years and the developer,Richard Tracz, who is the founder and director of R-Kix, a youth football coaching company, says the plans would bring the building back into use, promote health and fitness, and also bring positive benefits to the vitality and viability of the town centre.
The applicant does not propose to make any elevational alterations to the existing building and intends to utilise the large internal space to create the sports pitches and fitness areas.
here are four football pitches proposed within the building and they include three of the same size and a larger pitch. The three pitches measure 20 metres by 13 metres, and the larger pitch measures 26 metres by 16.9 metres.
The size and layout of the pitches would be sufficient to enable small-sided football games to take place. There are also four practice cricket lanes, a
gymnasium, and a small running track included as part of the sports and fitness business. Being located inside the building, the various sporting facilities can be used all year round and they will not generate any excessive noise.
The applicant is proposing to hire out the football pitches and cricket lanes to customers on an hourly basis like other facilities of this type.
