At their meeting on 19 July, Huntingdonshire District Council’s Cabinet is being asked to release funding for an ambitious expansion of the facilities at Huntingdon Leisure Centre.
The scheme, costing £1.1 million, will bring a host of new activities and facilities to the centre situated in St Peter’s Road, Huntingdon. As well as expanding the existing fitness suite by adding the latest high-tech equipment to meet growing demand, the scheme is targeted towards young people and children to encourage them to adopt more healthy lifestyles. A dedicated interactive play zone will prove especially attractive to teenagers and a permanent soft play area will be equipped with trampolines, ball pool, climbing net and other facilities for the under fives.
Further elements of the scheme include specialist treatment rooms for sports injuries and health services, the relocation of the existing sauna and steam room and its transformation into a spa facility, and improvements to the existing changing rooms.
The development makes best use of the internal space at the centre but will involve the loss of one badminton court. For badminton players and others however, there will be no need to worry as four courts will remain for use for badminton, five-a-side football etc.
It is hoped that the conversion works will start later this year in the autumn with a view to opening next Easter. While every effort will be made to have as little impact as possible on existing usage while the development takes place, the centre manager and his staff will keep users regularly informed so that they are aware of the changes.
Mike Simpson, Huntingdonshire’s Executive Councillor with responsibility for the Council’s five leisure centres said; ‘I am thrilled that we are able to announce such an exciting development in Huntingdon. As a council, we are very conscious of the need to encourage everyone to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles. By appealing to such a wide cross section and especially young people, the scheme should make a positive contribution towards the health of the community and encourage even greater usage of the fantastic range of facilities that the council has invested in at our leisure centres.’