A swimming pool is to close for around six months to allow for the major redevelopment of leisure facilities in a County Durham town.
Durham County Council has announced it is carrying out works at Peterlee Leisure Centre in the new year.
It is involves moving gym facilities into a new space to to create a dedicated fitness suite featuring exercise and weights equipment and separate studios for classes.
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There will be a new adventure play area created for children and families, which will offer healthy food and drinks.
It will also see the addition of a new ten-pin bowling area to be enjoyed
In line with the council’s climate commitments and Climate Emergency Response Plan, environmental and decarbonisation improvements will be made to the leisure centre’s heating systems, and swimming pool.
Councillor James Rowlandson, the council’s cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “We are keen to make enhancements across our leisure centres to create a modern, fun and exciting wellbeing offer.
“These works are being carried out following consultations with residents on what they would like to see from our improved leisure offer, to ensure our facilities meet the needs and desires of the community.”
The refurbishment of the leisure centre will involve a significant works programme which will be carried out in carefully planned phases to minimise disruption to the public.
Phase one of the works is expected to begin in January, and during this phase the main hall and squash courts will be closed but the gym and library facilities will remain open.
The library will be accessed through the centre’s main entrance, and a new access point will be
Exercise classes will finish on Wednesday, December 21 for the Christmas period, and an alternative exercise programme is being developed for during the works.
The centre’s swimming pool will also close during phase one of the works.
All swimming and Learn to Swim memberships will be frozen during its closure, but members will have the option to continue their membership to be used at other pools in the county.
All affected clubs, users and customers are being contacted regarding their specific situation, and there will be regular communications throughout the works.
Phase one of the works is anticipated to be complete in the summer 2023.
Cllr Rowlandson said: “We are excited for the finished result which will see Peterlee Leisure Centre transformed into a new hub for visitors and customers to enjoy.”
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