Cheshire East Council (CEC) has revealed that new lifestyle centres are to be built in Crewe and Wilmslow as part of efforts to roll out the concept across the region.

The local authority is looking to overhaul the way it delivers health and wellbeing services to residents, with the venues set to accommodate leisure, library and social care facilities. Under CEC's plans, each lifestyle centre will be able to provide activities such as basketball; water aerobics; badminton; PC tuition and tea dances.

The initial two facilities will be followed by two further new-build centres in Congleton and Macclesfield and are designed to reduce health and social inequalities in Cheshire East. CEC cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing Andrew Knowles said: "This is a bold, ambitious and forward-thinking plan which will bring leisure centres, libraries and some social care services under one roof.

"With public health responsibilities coming back to local authorities, these hubs will help to prevent long-term illnesses such as heart disease. This underlines our commitment to improving life opportunities and health for everybody in Cheshire East." Image (from left): Macclesfield Leisure Centre duty manager Becky Snelson and manager Maria Tatters; recreation assistant Dan Lyons; and Andrew Knowles.