READING Borough Council is celebrating successful milestones for its leisure centres following multi-million pound investment in facilities around the town.
The council has announced that it is approaching one million visitors to its leisure facilities after a number of refurbishment and redevelopment programs.
It is due to see a presentation during the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee meeting next week, where leisure partner Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) will give an update on their ongoing delivery of projects.
These include the two new centres at Rivermead and Palmer Park as well as the ongoing development of new swimming pools at Rivermead, due to open in the Summer.
The council began the partnership with GLL in July 2021, since which the company has delivered significant works for the council’s £40m investment program into all of the town’s leisure centres.
GLL was presented with the Investors in People Gold Award in its 30th anniversary year, and collaborates with the Reading Football Club Community Trust alongside the council to run a number of initiatives supporting young people.
Adele Barnett-Ward, lead councillor for Leisure and Culture said, “At a time when council funding is in crisis and other authorities are having to make cuts to leisure services Reading Borough Council has bucked the trend with this significant investment in sport and leisure.
“It’s fantastic to have tangible evidence, in the form of vastly increased visitor numbers, that was the right thing to do and that Reading’s residents are using and enjoying these high-quality modern facilities and services.
“The opening of new facilities and the upcoming pools at Rivermead Leisure Centre demonstrate our commitment to providing top-notch amenities for everyone in Reading, even in these difficult times.”
She continued: “This remarkable achievement of reaching almost one million visitors a year is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Council, GLL, and our community partners.
“We are united in our commitment to providing high-quality leisure facilities that cater to the diverse needs of our residents and contribute to the overall well-being of our community.”
“The report and presentation to the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee will demonstrate how our partnership with GLL is already paying dividends for Reading.
“There is more to come with the opening of the two new swimming pools at Rivermead this summer: it has been exciting to watch the build progress and it won’t be long now before we have the first swimmers in the water!
“The past year has also seen exciting improvements delivered at Meadway Sports Centre and South Reading Leisure Centre.”
She explained: “Our investment in these centres demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality leisure facilities throughout the borough–our measures to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental efficiency also ensure Reading’s new leisure facilities are as environmentally friendly as possible.”
“As well as the improved facilities across all our leisure sites, this update will highlight how we are working to increase physical activity, health and wellbeing across the borough.
“Weight management courses, cardiac and cancer rehabilitation and targeted work in the community is already significantly reaching out to those in most need and working to reduce health inequalities.”
Craig Woodward, GLL Partnership Manager, said: “We are extremely pleased with the progress of the leisure facilities in Reading over the past 12 months, with some amazing milestones achieved.”
“With the opening of Palmer Park and Rivermead, along with refurbishments at Meadway and South Reading it has been a very successful year.”
“Looking ahead we are excited about the opportunities that we are able to offer the residents in Reading and hope to see more people using these amazing leisure facilities.”
