WORK has started on revamping the changing facilities at a Tilehurst leisure centre, while a swimming pool is due to be refurbished from September.
It is all part of Reading Borough Council’s ongoing programme of works to improve facilities for residents.
Also on the schedule is work on the new demountable pool that will be installed at Rivermead leisure centre.
Work on Meadway Sports Centre started on Monday, with the swimming pool changing rooms being given a makeover. New accessible changing facilities will be installed as part of this.
Other improvements include new showers, flooring, cubicles and lockers.
The pool remains open with temporary changing facilities available and swimmers asked to arrive ‘beach ready’ to assist.
Work should be completed by October.
While the new Rivermead Leisure Centre gym facilities open from Monday, July 17, the pool still remains in construction stage.
GLL, which operates Reading’s leisure facilities, need to close the demountable swimming pool on the Richfield Avenue site from Friday, July 14. This is to incorporate the pool building into the new site, and deep clean facilities.
It will be opened again in time for the new academic year, while the new swimming pools will open this time next year.
And from the first week of September, South Reading Leisure Centre in Whitley will start a refurbishment programme lasting six months.
This will start after the works to the Rivermead demountable pool have finished to give South Reading centre users the option of swimming at Rivermead as well as at Meadway and the new community pool at Palmer Park.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture at Reading Borough Council, said: “Our £40 million investment in modern leisure facilities across the town includes delivering fantastic new pools and improvements to our existing swimming facilities to ensure everyone across Reading has access to good quality, accessible swimming facilities.
“There has, rightly, been a focus on the new leisure facilities we’ve delivered at the newly opened Palmer Park leisure centre and community pool, and that we are delivering at Rivermead – which opens on July 17, followed by the new pools in summer 2024, but our continued improvements to Meadway Sports Centre and South Reading Leisure Centres are just as important. The council’s investment in these popular centres demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality leisure facilities throughout the borough.
“There will inevitably be some disruption as work takes place at each location and I would like to thank everyone for your patience while we make these vital improvements – it will certainly be worth it once the work is complete.
“We will keep you updated on the progress and invite you to help us celebrate once the new facilities reopen at each of our centres.”
And Craig Woodward, GLL’s Partnership Manager, said work would be at a pace to complete the new state-of-the-art leisure facilities, that he felt would be the envy of the Thames Valley.
“The benefits these updated facilities will offer the local community are invaluable,” he continued.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight – and swimming we know is particularly beneficial for everyone.
“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.”
