STRATFORD Park Leisure Centre is having a good start to the year after seeing its membership more than double as well as receiving £100,000 in investment.

When company Everyone Active started running the leisure centre just over a year ago, there were 750 gym members. Now there are over 1,800.

The extra money will go towards an extension to the gym as well as the introduction of new equipment including treadmills, bikes, cross trainers, a squat rack.

More resistance machines including cardio theatre and TVs will be added as well as additional matting to the gym area and the redecoration of the activity hall.

The work has just started and is due to be completed by January 26 when the centre will be hosting an open weekend.

Dan Coleman, general manager of Stratford Park Leisure Centre for Everyone Active, which manages the facility in partnership with Stroud District Council said they had been listening to their members.

“Extending the gym to offer even more equipment and a great space for core work is what they have been asking for,” he said.

“We have significantly more members now than we did 12 months ago and the extension will help to cater for all of them.”