A NEW soft play area, a larger gym and new studio space are to be installed at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in a £2 million investment planned by the borough’s new leisure operator Places Leisure.
Drop-in sessions will be held in the centre’s conference room next month.
The work, which will be installed in three phases from this autumn, is due to be completed by April next year and is part of an ambitious scheme to increase the number of users by 100,000 a year.
However, the brains behind the scheme have admitted that when its car park is full, users will have to park in Asda next door, despite not having any formal agreement in place with the supermarket giant, which offers two hours free parking for shoppers.
Under the plans, the existing gym will be expanded to accommodate new equipment including an indoor track and Teambeats, a bookable circuit class that aims to help users improve fitness and lose weight while working out to music. Participants follow a heart rate target and monitor their performance on a large display screen.
There will also be a new dedicated group cycling studio and a separate studio that will be used for Pilates, body balance and yoga.
Families will welcome a two-storey soft play area which will have a seating area and be off the existing cafe.
Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for environment, leisure and libraries at Wokingham Borough Council, said that the borough needed modern and enticing leisure facilities.
“We’re embarking on a huge investment programme across the borough, not just at Loddon Valley. Bulmershe is currently being rebuilt, Ryeish Green is being refurbished and Carnival Leisure Centre s due to be redeveloped in 2020.”
The scheme is being funded by Places Leisure and not the borough council. The company said it was an indication of how confident it was in running the centres.
Duncan Mackay, area manager of Places Leisure, said: “We’re investing £2 million in Loddon Valley, this will be welcomed by customers and staff.
“Work gets underway at the end of September and we will try and keep disruption to customers to a minimum.
“The principal reason for the investment is to increase footfall: we will add 100,000 users to the centre.”
And he also promised improvements to the changing rooms for the gym: “There will be an all-new locker system,” he promised.
Places Leisure also has a policy of welcoming younger users and is planning some parent and child sessions in addition to its soft play and swimming sessions.
“We want younger users,” Mr Mackay said. “We encourage people aged 11 upwards to come along [to the gym].”
One casualty of the change will be the squash courts, which the company admitted was due to lack of use. The borough council will offer alternative facilities.
And Mr Mackay praised Wokingham Borough Council for its support.
“We’re extremely pleased to be working with WBC,” he said. “It’s clear from day one that it’s as strong partnership, specifically at Loddon Valley where were looking to get developments done.”
Amy Cheale, Loddon Valley’s general manager, added: “We’re looking forward to introducing these exciting new improvements during the coming months and excited to be able to offer customers an enhanced leisure service.
“Through this investment we aim to open up even more opportunities for people to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle, in line with our mission to create active places and healthy people.”
For more details or to see the plans, log on to www.loddonvalleyleisurecentre.org
