A new budget fitness gym has opened at the historic Pelican Centre in Tyldesley, Lancashire, following a £350,000 investment from Wigan Council.

The centre currently houses a popular 25m pool and will now boast a 110sq m gym space with a selection of equipment from Precor. Kit includes four Next-Generation treadmills, a corner Queenax functional training unit and various dual-use resistance pieces.

Memberships for the new gym will be made available from £20 per month.

The investment has also resulted in new shower and changing rooms being installed and the creation of a mezzanine level, which features a multi-functional meeting room/community hall and classroom.

The Pelican Centre is located in the former Majestic Cinema building, opened by Union Playhouses in 1923. When the cinema was closed in 1963, it was purchased by the local council who converted it into public baths.

In 2010 the centre was close to closing down completely as a result of local government cuts – but was saved by a group of volunteers who now manage the site as the Pelican Centre Trust.

The trust has turned the once under-used centre into a community hub and there are further plans to introduce a ‘pop-up’ restaurant and other facilities.

Natalia Stothard, the centre’s business manager, said: “Two regular local residents – who have lived in the area all their lives and were involved in all the public meetings to prevent the closure of the facility five years ago – said they didn’t think they would see this in their lifetime.

“They visited the cinema as children and young adults before settling down with their own families. They told me they are proud to have attended the meetings over the closure and shown support for the Pelican Centre so it will be available for future generations.”