By Cllr Liz Terry
It was around 10 years ago now that the Council made the decision to invest heavily in Reading’s leisure offer.
Next week, our commitment to residents culminates in the opening of the town’s flagship new swimming pool at the modern new Rivermead Leisure Centre.
I have to keep correcting myself here as it is actually two new pools which open to the public on Monday, June 17. A traditional 25-metre, 8-lane pool, sits alongside a new teaching and diving pool.
I’m sure many of you recall school swimming lessons of yore at the old Central Pool off the Oxford Road, looking on in terror as the few brave souls in the class dared to take on the top board of the diving pool.
I was a fairly regular user at weekends and holidays when I was young and I did jump off the top board on a number of occasions. I am certain I wouldn’t do it now.
Our new teaching and diving pool at Rivermead comes with a five metre tower, a three metre springboard and two one metre spring dives.
It also comes with a completely moveable floor, meaning the water depth can be adjusted depending on the activity which is taking place.
I’m sure Reading’s divers will relish this excellent new facility, whether it’s to practice their double tucks and somersaults or, for the more amateur among us, jumping in and hoping for the best.
Also included poolside is a wonderful new splash pad zone for younger residents which I’m certain will become a local family favourite.
It is right to acknowledge that the new pools at Rivermead have taken a bit longer than we would have liked, having encountered a frustrating delay during the construction phase in securing a licence from the Environment Agency, not to mention the obvious challenges every major construction project has faced in recent years with the vastly increased cost of building materials, and the Covid pandemic of course.
Thankfully that is all in the past and Reading boast a modern new flagship leisure centre, which I’m sure you will agree is a significant improvement on the old Rivermead and Central pool sites.
The same applies over in east Reading of course, where the Council came in for criticism in some quarters for making the very difficult decision to shut the much-loved, but dated, old Arthur Hill pool and replace it with the modern new Palmer Park Leisure Centre, which combines the benefits of a modern new swimming pool, alongside the velodrome and athletics stadium all in one accessible location.
Our new leisure centre has been warmly welcomed by the east Reading community and is proving extremely popular.
And our investment in new leisure facilities extends across the borough including refurbished changing rooms at Meadway Sports Centre and at my local leisure centre in South Reading, with the refurbished swimming pool and changing areas reopening in time for the summer holidays.
One of the reasons the Council chose to invest so significantly is because they are so much more than a place you go to stay fit and healthy. There are also hugely important benefits to socialising at our centres, whether that is for sports groups, voluntary groups and various clubs that engage residents young and old.
At a time when many councils have been forced to look for savings in leisure, the Council chose to invest in Reading’s and it is now time for residents to reap the benefits. If you haven’t visited already, dive in and give one of them a go.
Cllr Liz Terry is the leader of Reading Borough Council and ward member for Coley
