WORK is well under way at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre in Leamington as a £14.5 million revamp takes shape.
The centre is currently part of an overhaul of leisure facilities across the district, with nearby St Nicholas Park in Warwick also undergoing a makeover.
It has recently been taken over by leisure management company Everyone Active, which also runs Abbey Fields Swimming Pool, Castle Farm Recreation Centre, St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, John Atkinson Sports Centre and Meadow Community Sports Centre.
And while the centre on Newbold Terrace is currently a building site, it is clear to see progress is being made.
Observer deputy editor Laura Kearns and photographer Jon Mullis went to see what the new centre will offer for residents.
Council chiefs pride themselves on the new and improved Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre having something for everyone.
It will be nearly three times the size it was before, and will include a climbing wall and state-of-the-art gym with space for more than 100 pieces of equipment.
There will also be three big studios – two of which can be opened out to form one big space. Classes such as bodypump, yoga and spin bike sessions will take place there throughout the week.
When we visited the site it was clear a lot of thought had gone into its layout and how it would work for residents of all ages and mobility levels.
Changing rooms used to be based upstairs, which the council admit walking to was not a pleasant experience if you were wet and cold after getting out of the pool. They believe Newbold Comyn was the only pool in the country with such a strange layout.
But now there will be facilities right next to the pool, with a separate set upstairs next to the gym.
There will also be windows looking from the gym over to the ‘clip and climb’ wall.
The pool will stay the same, as will the rows of seating, which Everyone Active hopes will enable them to hold swimming galas.
Spokeswoman Toni Gaskins from Everyone Active said: “We want to give everyone the chance top become active. We are not putting up any barriers, we want people to come and enjoy the facilities, enjoy what we are doing here and then want to come back again.
“We are going to be able to offer the best of everything. We are even helping people to get fit in the comfort of their own homes by offering online exercise videos with memberships.”
Warwick District Council has pumped nearly £15million into upgrading facilities at Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park – something which caused controversy when it was announced a private firm would take over the running of the district council leisure facilities.
Everyone Active, which won the contract, say it has so far had a good reaction to the plans for leisure services in the district and hope to continue improving facilities with the next step including plans to refurbish Castle Farm gym in Kenilworth.
Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre will partly open in August and be completely by next spring.
