Work starts next week on improvements at Meadway Leisure Centre
- Improvements include refurbishment of the gym and new studio space
- The work is expected to take 3 months
WORK starts this month on improvements for customers of Meadway Leisure Centre - the latest part of the Council’s £40m investment in modern leisure facilities for the town.
Hot on the heels of improvement works completed at South Reading Leisure Centre in February and work well underway on modern new swimming pools and facilities at both Rivermead and Palmer Park, work at Meadway Leisure Centre in Tilehurst, which is run by GLL on behalf of the Council, begins on Thursday 10 March and is expected to last for 3 months.
Users of the centre can look forward to:
- A larger gym area with improved equipment
- New dedicated studio space
- A refresh of the dry side changing rooms
- A revamp of the reception and circulation areas
- Squash court refurbishment
To allow for the development works to be carried out safely and securely, the gym at Meadway will need to close. Gym users will be able to access alternative fitness facilities at Rivermead or South Reading leisure centres during this period. Download the free Better App to your smartphone and add these centres to the ‘My Clubs’ section, or visit www.better.org.uk
Disruption to users of the swimming pool will be kept to a minimum, with this facility available throughout the duration of the work. Plans for future refurbishment of the wetside changing rooms are being worked on for later in the year.
Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Sport, said: “I’m really pleased that alongside the work on the new leisure facilities at Rivermead and Palmer Park, improvements have been completed at South Reading Leisure Centre and are now starting at Meadway.
“It is exciting times to see these improvements and the building of our new pools and leisure centre progressing. This continues to provide residents with tangible evidence of our commitment to delivering the new facilities.
“Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past two years, the Council and our leisure partners, GLL, remain fully committed to delivering the modern leisure facilities a town of our size and status deserves. By spring 2023, Reading will boast a 25m 8-lane competition pool with dedicated diving provision at Rivermead and by winter 2022 a brand new 25m 6-lane community pool at Palmer Park, linked to existing sports facilities – combining the benefits of a sizable pool, velodrome and athletics stadium all in one accessible location – delivering a fairly unique facility in the region and putting Reading firmly on the map as a top sports destination.
“As well as the improved facilities across all leisure sites being delivered over the next year, there is also a drive to increase physical activity, health and wellbeing across the borough, with weight management courses, cardiac and cancer rehabilitation and targeted work in the community to reach those in most need and work towards reducing health inequalities.”
Craig Woodward, GLL’s Partnership Manager for Reading said: “The improvement work at Meadway Leisure Centre is further great news for local people.
“The benefits these updated facilities will offer the local community are invaluable. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.
“Reading’s new and upgraded leisure provision will offer an inviting and welcoming environment, for all local residents to enjoy, in addition to enabling us to provide dedicated courses and activities that encourage better health and wellbeing.”
Work started on the Rivermead site on 31 August. The new Rivermead facilities will include a 25m 8-lane competition pool alongside a combined teaching and diving pool, due to open in spring 2023.
At Palmer Park, in addition to the refurbishment of the existing stadium building, there will be a new 25 metre, 6-lane community pool. The new community pool and facilities will open to the public in late 2022.
Find out more about the investment in health here.
For regular updates on the leisure project visit www.better.org.uk/new-reading-leisure or follow the Council on social media @ReadingCouncil Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or GLL at @Better_Reading
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