Hundreds at unveiling of Grantham Meres Leisure Centre’s £600,000 modernisation
The £600,000 renovation at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre received a resounding thumbs up from the local community, when it was unveiled at an open day on Saturday.
Youngsters Keaton Leighton, Booth Leighton and Charlie Bavister cut the ribbon to formally open the new centre alongside South Kesteven District Council leader, Coun Bob Adams, deputy leader Coun Nick Craft and chairman Coun Ray Wootten.
A three-month programme of investment by SKDC & 1Life totalling £600,000 has seen the gym double in size and gym equipment double in number, in response to a customer consultation.
The introduction of new cross-training, cardio, strength, and easy-to-use toning machines for flexibility type training, means that the gym is now more suited to a broader range of users. The equipment has built-in interactive TV entertainment, and users can use their own devices, or make use of Nike+1Pod technology.
In addition, there is now an amazing, dedicated indoor cycling studio with Myride entertainment and instructor technology, enabling customers to take part in timetabled classes or follow the automatic instructions of a trainer on a screen – a first for the district.
The investment also funded a second, brand new group exercise studio, which when added to the existing small hall means Grantham is now able to provide 128 classes of exercise each week - 100 more than before, again in response to research with customers.
In all over 650 members of the local community took advantage of the free activities available at the open day, with the pool almost at capacity as families enjoyed swim and inflatable sessions. The gym and studios saw half hour taster sessions of exercise classes and gym inductions.
Badminton and table tennis also proved popular on the day, along with a bouncy castle and face painting, while many enjoyed relaxing in the remodeled reception area and fantastic new Costa Coffee café.
Coun Adams, SKDC’s leader and portfolio holder for grow the economy said: “My congratulations go to 1Life and our Venues and Facilities team for their work on this great investment for Grantham Meres Leisure Centre.
“The feedback from the public and customers at the opening was the same as our reaction as councillors, at how great the facilities look and how impressive the range of equipment that is now on offer for members to enjoy.”
On behalf of Leisure in the Community, who helped fund the development, Dennis Bell said: “Leisure in the Community were delighted to have attended the opening of these new facilities for the community at Grantham Meres, which have only been possible through working in close partnership with such an excellent authority as SKDC.”
General manager at the centre, James Cole, said: “It was really fantastic to see all the different facilities being used. All the visitors and the councillors who attended the opening were blown away by the quality of finish, technology and variety on offer.
“Our research told us we needed to appeal to a broader range of local people, and with the new modern facilities and the great new services, we have every chance of helping everyone get the most out of life!”
