NORTHGATE Arena is set to benefit from the bulk of a £7 million capital funding package.

Cheshire West and Chester Council set the money aside to improve its Brio leisure facilities as part of its budget for 2018-19.

But Cllr David Armstrong, cabinet member for legal and finance, has now confirmed that most of the investment will go towards refurbishing the Chester facility.

“The majority of these works are due to take place at Northgate Arena, which is the biggest site and the one that is most in need of investment,” he said.

“However, we are still at an early stage in determining the scope and financial viability of the works.

“Design and feasibility work is ongoing and there should be greater clarity in the spring/summer.”

The Victoria Road site was built in 1977, and it was mooted for possible demolition by the former Chester City Council in 2001 and 2004.

Brio’s other facilities include Winsford Lifestyle Centre, which was built in 2009, while both Northwich Memorial Court and Ellesmere Port Sports Village opened in 2015.

Cllr Lynn Riley, leader of CWAC’s Conservative opposition, has welcomed the promise of investment for Northgate Arena.

However, the member for Frodsham insists that more needs to be done to bring leisure facilities up to scratch elsewhere in the borough.

She said: “Improving local health and wellbeing through investment in leisure facilities has been a priority for the Conservatives since 2009, and reaffirmed by Labour in its 2015 Let’s Talk consultation.

“So we are pleased that Northgate plans are finally under way.

“Whilst this is good news for Chester and will finally bring facilities up to similar standards in Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford, there remains other areas that have disappeared from plans and budgets since 2015.

“Large populations in our rural areas and places like Helsby and Frodsham were expecting to be part of a phase two roll-out and are still waiting.”

CWAC says it will work with Brio to consider improvement packages across the borough on a case-by-case basis.