Stockport Council is selling the Stockport Sports Village in Woodley, Greater Manchester, to Stockport County Football Club as part of a long-term plan to change how the site is used. While council leaders say the move is necessary to keep the facility open, many residents are worried that the sale will eventually lead to the loss of their local gym and fitness classes.
Local activist Sheila Oliver and other residents started a petition to voice their concerns about the loss of health and fitness spaces for the public. Following this outcry, the council has agreed to let the community keep using the gym, studio, and football facilities until December 2026.
Stockport Council confirmed that the football club has promised to keep the site’s football pitches available for community use for the next 25 years. The club plans to expand its educational programmes at the site, with student numbers expected to reach about 500 by the year 2030.
According to Life Leisure, most of the money made from the sale will be put back into other leisure centres across the borough. However, many people in the community remain worried about where they will go for exercise once the temporary agreement for the Woodley site runs out at the end of 2026.
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