A PROJECT to upgrade a Tilehurst leisure centre has been completed, making it fit for business once again.
Users of the Meadway Leisure Centre can now benefit from an enlarged gym area with new equipment, new dedicated studio space for exercise and yoga classes, new dry changing rooms and a revamped reception area.
And last week the upgrades were seen by gym users and councillors, who were hosted by Craig Woodward, from the council’s leisure contractor GLL.
Tilehurst resident Desmond Kelly, said: “I’m a regular user of the gym and the swimming pool. I’ve been coming here to Meadway for the best part of 10 years. The old gym was very tired and a bit run down and it’s super now.
“There really is a great advantage to staying fit for your own wellbeing – mental as well as physical because it’s social as well as exercise. It helped me recover from an accident very quickly.”
Fellow user and councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “I use the leisure centre for badminton, it’s just the first step to improvements and there is more planned for the future.
“The changing rooms are a vast improvement, the reception area is really good and the whole gym area is really good as well.”
However, not everything was a gold medal podium finish.
“If there is one problem, it’s that the frontage needs to be smartened up, as you can miss the entrance quite easily if you are driving,” he said.
“I’ve raised this with the council.
“There is still more work to be done, this is only the first step. The badminton courts which I play on are due for an update.”
Reading Borough Council is now preparing to refurbish squash courts and the pool changing rooms.
Mr Woodward, partnership manager for GGL in Reading, said: “The improved Meadway Leisure Centre is great news.
“The benefits these updated facilities will offer the local community are invaluable. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.
“Reading’s new and upgraded leisure provision will offer an inviting and welcoming environment, for all local residents to enjoy, in addition to enabling us to provide dedicated courses and activities that encourage better health and wellbeing.”
And this view was echoed by Cllr Adele Barnet-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s lead for leisure.
She said the Meadway improvements fit into a wider project of upgrading centres across the town at Rivermead, Palmer Park and South Reading as well.
“The Commonwealth Games are a reminder that high quality, affordable leisure and sporting facilities aren’t just about having fun and keeping fit, important though that is. Our improved leisure centres will help develop Reading’s sporting stars of the future,” she said.
“At the end of this year, the new Palmer Park Centre will open, becoming the only leisure centre in the region to offer a 25m six-lane community pool alongside a velodrome and athletics stadium.
“The new Rivermead centre will follow next year, with a 25m 8-lane competition pool with dedicated diving provision.
“As well as the improved facilities across all our leisure sites we are also 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 reaching out to those in most need and working to reduce health inequalities.”
