The ground is being tested after a site in Morden Park was chosen for a new £11m leisure centre.

Work including carrying out surveys and testing the ground will take place on the site for the proposed Morden Leisure Centre in London Road over the coming weeks.

The tests will also look at how construction of a building will impact on the area, the results of which will be taken into account when the plans reach Merton Council’s planning committee.

It was agreed recently that the centre should be built away from the current site to minimise disruption to users.

New £11m leisure centre for Morden rubber-stamped despite concerns
 

Wimbledon Times:

The current leisure centre 

The council’s cabinet member for community and culture, Councillor Nick Draper said: “I knew it was essential for the current centre to remain open for local people, and especially local schoolchildren, while the new leisure centre is being built, so I am glad this was agreed at cabinet.

“The proposed site is in a great location and offers good links to Morden town centre.

“Getting the right site is an important step and with ground testing work starting, we are making good progress towards delivering the new family sports facility that local people want.”

Testing is also being carried out on the existing Morden Park Pools site.

Other surveys have already started and these will continue to take place prior to the planning applications being submitted, the council said. 

The site of the current centre, which is open for business as usual, will be returned to green space, the council has pledged.

The new leisure centre could be open in 2017.