Many of Loughborough University's students, who have been using Loughborough Leisure Centre's excellent fitness facilities, will have been thoroughly disappointed at the closure of the swimming pools after a major fire in December 2012.
The blaze destroyed the changing rooms and badly damaged the pool area, although luckily the remainder of the centre was unaffected and remained open to the public as normal. However, swimmers who looked forward to pacing up and down the lanes were left deflated at the sudden closure of the pools after the disaster, although in order to minimise inconvenience as much as possible, the centre provided gym access to all its swimming-only members and welcomes them at Charnwood Borough's two other pools: Soar Valley Leisure Centre in Mountsorrel and South Charnwood Leisure Centre in Syston.
Fortunately, Loughborough Leisure Centre is now pleased to announce that its two swimming pools are set to reopen in the summer, topping off an extensive renovation of entire gym and fitness studio complex that began in early 2012. The centre was crowned the ‘best health club in the East Midlands’ at a prestigious awards ceremony early last year and was recognised for its outstanding range of activities, customer service and value for money, meeting the needs of children to the elderly in its dedication to encouraging and improving the fitness in the community.
Charnwood Borough Council's resolute attitude in promoting healthier lifestyles for its members was reflected in its £2.1m investment, so that Loughborough Leisure Centre now boasts ‘high quality facilities including a 124 station state of the art gym, three studios home to over 60 classes a week, a brand new soft play centre and café, a resurfaced sports hall and modern dry changing rooms.’
Sylvia Wright, Charnwood Borough Council's Head of Leisure and Culture, stated that while she "recognises and regrets the inconvenience that has been caused to customers by the closure of the pools, I hope that the longer term benefits of the improvements being made will be well received."
Neil Pearson, Divisional Business Manager for Fusion Lifestyle, emphasised the benefits that the refurbished pools and changing area will have on Charnwood Borough's community, as once the centre is completely revamped, it will pride itself in being "amongst the best in the country."
The public, and participating Loughborough students, can rest assured that the finished project will guarantee optimum facilities for all keen swimmers and for those who enjoy exercising in a modernised leisure centre that really does care about the wellbeing of its community.
