Picture Gallery: Last look around Oldham Sports Centre

DEMOLITION workers have moved in to flatten the former Oldham Sports Centre.

Their first task was to salvage all the recyclable material such as metal, timber and plastics which are included in the building.

The sports centre closed in November this year when the new £15m Oldham Leisure Centre opened.

Before the demolition team moved in officers from Oldham Council returned to photograph and document the facility, including the climbing room, swimming pools, main hall, and changing rooms.

The full demolition is expected to take 24 weeks. Plans for the site will be revealed at a later date.

The Oldham Swimming Stadium was opened in 1975 as a replacement for the Central Baths in Union Street. Oldham Sports Centre was built next to the Oldham Swimming Stadium and cost £1.7m.

The main sports hall was badly damaged by a fire in 1995 caused by a discarded cigarette. The refurbishment was re-opened by Tony Blair in April 1997.

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