New facilities unveiled at leisure centre

11:22am Wednesday 27th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

BRAND new facilities have been unveiled at Yate Leisure Centre for the first time since it was built.

A redesigned softplay area for toddlers and a new café opened yesterday as the first phase in a £1.8million refurbishment programme was completed.

The Atlantis softplay gives children two areas to enjoy with an underwater theme and has been specially designed to enhance children’s social, sensory and interactive development.

The idea for the new café, Café:Re, was developed by staff at the leisure centre and will provide customers with a bright and airy space.

The previous restaurant was cramped and difficult to manoeuvre with pushchairs and small children.

A new menu has also been launched in the café and will be rolled out across South Gloucestershire’s other leisure centres soon.

James Clifford, marketing manager for South Gloucestershire Leisure Ltd, which took over running all the region’s leisure centres from South Gloucestershire Council in 2005, said: "Work is now underway on phase two and is due to completed by late September.

"Works involve the installation of a new health and fitness facility and refurbishment of the dance studio.

"Phase three will start in September and be completed by mid-November."

The final improvements will include the long-awaited refurbishment of the men and women’s swimming pool changing rooms, which will be converted into a unisex village-style changing area.

The trust announced the investment in Yate Leisure Centre earlier this year and started work in May. Some sections of the centre have been relocated during construction work.

Mr Clifford added: "With a project this size there may be some disruption to our usual services.

"Please be assured the team is working very hard to keep this to a minimum."