COUNCIL chiefs have finally settled on a name for Winsford’s state-of-the-art leisure facility.

They’ve chosen to stick with the working title, Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

Town councillors had campaigned to name the £10.8m centre, due to open in early February, after VC winner RSM James Clarke, the only person from Mid Cheshire to have ever been award Britain’s highest military honour.

The suggestion was backed by the Royal British Legion and RSM Clarke’s former regiment, the Lancashire Fusiliers.

But an online consultation revealed less than a third of voters backed their choice, whereas 206 out of 392 people – around 53% – chose Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

Cllr John Grimshaw said: “It was a democratic decision. An acknowledgement to VC winner James Clarke will be made at the front of the new building.”

The 4,442sq m two-storey facility will include a health suite and spa, a sauna, an internet café, two squash courts, a multi-purpose hall, a 50-station gym, a dance studio, conference rooms, a bar and a function room for up to 500 people.