Greenwich Leisure users to benefit from new investments
The New Year brings good news for leisure centre users in Royal Greenwich. This month sees the announcement of £500k of local authority investment into four projects at popular centres, managed in partnership by charitable social enterprise leisure operator GLL.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich approved the capital investment projects which will bring a range of improvements to support physical activity opportunities for residents and boost the leisure partnership’s long-term recovery from the COVID pandemic.
The refresh and refurbish will be noticed in selected areas within Thamesmere Leisure Centre, Waterfront Leisure Centre, Greenwich Centre, Eltham Centre, Sutcliffe Park Sport Centre, Coldharbour Leisure Centre and Plumstead Centre.
Leisure is seen as a key part of public provision in the borough and the 29-year partnership between the Council and GLL is prioritised to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, while also providing job opportunities for local people.
Thamesmere Leisure Centre (the borough’s oldest) is promised a lighter and brighter feel. The studio and gym will be refurbished, with improvements to air conditioning, flooring, lighting and decoration.
The Eltham Centre will get a much-needed refurb to the heavily used gym and studio, plus a state-of-the-art group cycle studio with 55 bikes and ‘always-on’ virtual classes. The 15-year-old steam room is also set to be replaced.
At Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre, works will be undertaken to enhance the hugely popular existing soft play feature with a dedicated facility for toddlers and an extension for older children to create an extra 35 per cent capacity.
To make centres even more welcoming, and in line with recent changes at Waterfront and Plumstead, traditional desk reception areas will be transformed into ‘welcome areas’ with concierge style customer units at The Eltham Centre, Thamesmere, Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre, and the Greenwich Centre.
In addition to lighting and décor improvements, centres will have refreshments to wall art at Waterfront, Eltham, Thamesmere, Coldharbour and Plumstead Centres to enhance aesthetic appeal. External signage will also be improved at Waterfront, Thamesmere, Coldharbour and Eltham.
Cllr Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Equality, said: “We are thrilled to be able to announce these significant investment plans for our leisure centres, in partnership with GLL.”
“In the wake of the pandemic, the health and wellbeing of our residents is more important than ever and these improvements will provide top class leisure facilities. Why not make a New Year’s resolution to get fit and signup to your local leisure centre today.”
GLL Partnership Manager Richard Gallagher said: “We hope these investments into the look and feel of centres will encourage customers to return in greater numbers.”
“Covid has made a big dent in people’s confidence and in their health. But working in partnership with Royal Borough of Greenwich we are doing all we can to address this and help the wider recovery in health and opportunity.”