THE OPENING date for the opening of the new Rivermead leisure centre has been revealed by Reading Borough Council.
The site will open in two stages: leisure facilities will be this year, while two new swimming pools will come next year.
The Richfield Avenue site includes a 120-station gym, three studios, a six-court sports hall with 280 spectator seats, a soft play facility, and a café.
They are designed to be accessible and sustainable, as part of the council’s policies of investing in targeted activities to reduce health inequalities.
This will open on Monday, July 17.
The swimming facilities include a 25 metre eight-lane competition pool and a teaching and diving pool. These both have moveable floors so the depth can be adjusted. A splash pad will be available for younger users.
There will also be 300 spectator seats, including seven accessible wheelchair spaces.
The council said this is part of a £40 million investment in leisure facilities across the borough, including improvements at South Reading Leisure Centre and Meadway Sports Centre, and the new Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for leisure and culture, said: “We can’t wait to get the doors open and welcome residents to the new Rivermead Leisure Centre. The centre represents a significant investment in Reading and provides leisure facilities that are fit for the future.
“The centre has been built to BREEAM Excellent environmental standards and is designed to create an inclusive fitness environment so everyone in our community can join in and experience the benefits of physical activity.
“From July 17, Reading’s community can enjoy a fantastic new sports hall and a 120-station gym with studios, as well as a fabulous soft play and café families will love.
“We are also looking forward to the new swimming pools opening next summer, which will be yet another opportunity to celebrate.”
The site will be operated by GLL.
Craig Woodward, its partnership manager, said: “GLL, alongside our partners Pellikaan and Reading Borough Council are all working at pace together to bring forward these state-of-the-art leisure facilities that will be the envy of the Thames Valley.
“With an emphasis on accessibility and affordability, the new leisure complex will support the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents young and old – getting more people, more active more often.
“We know leisure centre users can’t wait to see inside – so keep a look out for updates on our opening weekend and tours.”
Building works will be needed in late July to incorporate the existing 25m 5-lane pool into the new leisure centre to enable continuity of swimming provision at the centre. There is likely to be a brief pool closure as part of these works: GLL will contact centre users to ensure they are aware in good time of any changes to sessions.
Gert-Jan Peeters, director of Pellikaan UK, said: “We are now in the final stages of delivering the phased opening of the new Rivermead. Work on the dryside facilities is going very well and we are confident that the centre will be a welcome addition for the local community by July.”
The existing leisure centre will remain open until the new centre is complete to ensure no gap in people’s leisure service. Once the new centre opens, work will begin to dismantle the old structure to make way for a new car park and children’s play area.
