Olympic Gold Medallist, Jason Gardener MBE, unveiled Midsomer Norton's South Wansdyke Sports Centre's (SWSC) £100,000 refurbishment, by welcoming the public to an open morning on Monday, 6th January.
Jason Gardener MBE formally opened SWSC's new facilities and met with
customers in the morning. SWSC opened its doors at 6.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering free use of the gym and six free exercise classes, including Kettleball, Zumba, Deep Water Aqua, 20/20/20, Health Back and Group Cycle.
Jason Curtis, Head of Operations at Aquaterra, said: "We have been delighted to partner with Bath and North East Somerset Council to deliver this extensive upgrade to facilities. The end result is fantastic and it is hoped the improvement will bring a much-enhanced sports and leisure offer to this popular community centre. We look forward to welcoming a host of new customers."
Councillor David Dixon, Bath and North East Somerset Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "We're thrilled to open this new section of the South Wansdyke Sports Centre – which makes it an even better facility for the whole community. The improved facilities are a brilliant enhancement to what was previously on offer and we anticipate it should increase people's usage of the leisure centre by around 40%.
"Bath and North East Somerset Council is keen to give everyone the chance to get active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The larger fitness suite – which offers a greater choice of new equipment and a variety of classes – along with improved access for all, will help us to achieve this."
One of those people that have signed up to membership at the refurbished gym is Leader of B&NES Council, Paul Crossley, he said: "This all comes from the continued legacy of the Olympics, with all the Olympic events over the past few years, we are looking to refurbish centres like this across the area."
A feature of South Wansdyke Sports Centre's £100,000 upgrade is a new exercise studio, which will allow the centre to run forty extra exercise classes a week. Customers will also enjoy a major extension to the centre's gym, which has been doubled to 300 sqm and now offers state-of-the-art cardiovascular and resistance machines, free weight bars and benches.
David Dixon, of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: "With the refurbishment investment, Aquaterra and the Council have turned an under-used space into one that now means more people can get fit and active in January and beyond."