Parts of Plymouth Life Centre will be opening again in April in line with the national reopening of the leisure sector.
The gym and new changing rooms will be available from April 12, with the 50 metre pool and leisure pool opening at the end of April. Other facilities and activities will also begin to reopen in accordance with the Government’s roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions.
Contractors Balfour Beatty, Arcadis and operators Everyone Active are working flat out to finish the work programme which started last August and the finishing line is in sight.
When Plymouth Life Centre reopens, the vast majority of ‘dry’ facilities will be available. Work on the diving pool is expected to be complete by early June.
The work follows more investigations and a complete re-render and re-tile of the pool walls was instigated to prevent further works being required further down the line. These additional works have affected the timescales for the dive pool reopening but significantly, swimming and other aquatic activities will available from end of April.
Other leisure facilities will be open in line with Government announcements of the sector, including the Brickfields Athletics Track and All Weather Pitch from March 29 and indoor facilities at Brickfields and Plympton Swimming Pool from April 12.
The council has also given the go-ahead for the Tinside Lido and Mount Wise Swimming Pools to open on May 1, a month earlier than usual.
On reopening, Plymouth Life Centre will reflect the latest standards in the ever-evolving fitness sector with increased COVID-19 safety, new carbon reduction measures and an overall improved customer experience.
The key enhancement elements remain on track and are progressing well ahead of the reopening, these include:
Refitting male and female gym change areas with new lockers, cubicles, LED lighting and fixtures and fittings
- A new fitness studio, to be used for yoga, Pilates and other group classes
- Replacing carpet and floor coverings in many areas of the building: viewing galleries, bowls hall and circulation spaces
- Upgrades to heating and ventilation systems throughout the building, which improve air quality and mitigate the risk from air borne viruses and contagions, such as COVID-19
Deputy Leader, Pete Smith said;
“The contractors onsite at Plymouth Life Centre have done an excellent job progressing works in what has been a particularly challenging period with rising coronavirus infections over the past few months.
“We are on track to reopen a significant number of activities at the Plymouth Life Centre in line with the earliest national timescales, followed shortly afterwards by the 50m and leisure pool, but we are aware this is subject to the overall control of coronavirus in England.
“We know people are keen to get back in the water as soon as possible which is why we plan to open the outdoor pools earlier to give our swimmers choice.”
