Recently came the news that almost one million visits have been made to the Council’s leisure centres over the past year.
While that is indeed wonderful to hear, it doesn’t tell half the story of our lengthy journey to give Reading the modern new sports and leisure centres a town like ours deserves.
For those of you who have not followed it, a few years ago the Council came in for some significant criticism from some quarters – including from opposition groups across the Chamber – after it took the difficult decision to replace dated pools at Arthur Hill and Central Pool with modern new facilities.
For residents who have fond memories of learning to swim at Arthur Hill or Central, there was of course an understandable connection.
While we didn’t take those difficult decisions lightly, but we did so in the knowledge that it was the right decision for the long term. The reality is that even significant investment on these pools, would still not have brought them up to the standard we would want to see for Reading.
Instead, the Council embarked on a £40 million programme to transform leisure facilities in Reading. At a time when a number of local councils are choosing to shut leisure centres to save money, Reading Council chose to invest in ours.
I’d hope that the vast majority of residents in the east of our borough will agree that the Council’s modern new Palmer Park Leisure Centre, linked to the existing sports facilities, is a huge improvement.
And while Reading’s flagship new leisure centre at Rivermead opened last summer, it did so without a swimming pool owing to delays outside of our control. It won’t be long now, though, until we open Rivermead’s much-anticipated new pools in the summer – a 25 metre eight-lane competition pool alongside a teaching and diving pool, both with moveable floors.
Meanwhile, refurbishments have taken place at both Meadway Leisure Centre and South Reading Leisure Centre.
One of the reasons we chose to invest so significantly in Reading’s sports and leisure facilities is because we know they are so much more than a place you go to stay fit and healthy. They are also an important centre for sports groups, voluntary groups and various clubs that engage residents young and old. Community leisure centres are also a place where residents make friends and boost self-esteem. Reading’s offer goes further, with cardiac and cancer rehabilitation reaching out to those in most need. I sincerely hope our investment encourages even more residents to get active more often.
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), who operate Reading’s leisure centres on behalf of the Council, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year by being awarded Investors in People Gold. This is a fantastic outcome, especially for the many local people GLL employ.
I’m also delighted that we will be welcoming Reading FC Community Trust into South Reading Leisure Centre in the heart of Whitley, where they work with local youngsters to build relationships, foster confidence, create life skills and improve education outcomes for young people in the south of Reading.
They are both good examples of the Council’s wider vision, which is for Reading’s residents to benefit from the town’s undoubted success.
In the meantime, the old Arthur Hill swimming baths site has been transformed by the Council into desperately needed homes for Reading’s key workers, and over at the old Central Pool site, on Battle Street, the Council will be building new extra-care housing facilities for the borough’s residents.
It didn’t turn out so bad in the end.
Cllr Jason Brock is the leader of Reading Borough Council and ward member for Southcote
