A MULTI-MILLION pound redevelopment project is well underway at Thirsk leisure centre.

Thanks to council cash, work started on the ambitious £4million project on February 1 and despite the snow, ice and rain over the last fortnight, the project is already off to a great start.

The contractor is now on site, with demolition and breaking-through work being carried out this week.

Once complete, the centre will boast a gym three times the size of the current facility – which for the first time will be operational 24/7, a new studio for exercise classes and meetings, as well as a cycling studio.

Outdated plant equipment that forced the centre’s pools to close several times over the last couple of years, will have been replaced with greener, more environmentally-sustainable equipment and it will have a new roof to address much needed repairs and condensation issues within the building.

The gym changing rooms will be updated and the reception seating area will also be refurbished with new signage and wall art set to be introduced around the building.

The new structure for the gym extension should start to take shape towards the middle of March with the structure for the cycling studio going up after that.

Councillor Mark Robson, leader of Hambleton District Council said: “I can’t wait to see the new build starting to take shape in the early spring and look forward to the difference it will make to the people of Thirsk and those who travel to use the centre.”