The keys to the new leisure centre in Kirkby in Ashfield have been handed to the Ashfield District Council and leisure management company Everyone Active as it moves one step close to opening.
The new £15.5 million leisure centre is scheduled to open on Saturday, August 6 with the public invited to come and take a look with special guests in attendance. The special guests will be former England, Tottenham and Derby footballer Tom Huddlestone from Nottingham.
There will be an official opening and a family fun day will be held on Saturday, September 17.. There will also be free activities for visitors to get involved with.
The centre will feature a 25-metre swimming pool with a splash pad area, multi-purpose sports hall, fitness suite, fun climb wall, soft play area and steam room. There will also be a sauna, cafe and a well-being studio along with a sensory room. It's not all about being active as the sports hall will also have a cinema facility that boasts 196 retractable seats.
Read more: McDonald's prices set to rise by up to 20p in first hike in 14 years
The leisure centre has been under construction since December 2020. Locals have been eagerly waiting for the centre to announce an opening date. The council has been working closely with Everyone Active in a bid to transform the facilities available to residents across the district.
Ashfield District Council Leader Cllr Jason Zadrozny said: “It feels like a dream to finally be able to announce that Kirkby Leisure Centre will be opening its doors to residents on Saturday 6 August. The Council promised to build this state-of-the-art centre in 2019 and we have delivered.
He added: "Kirkby Leisure Centre is an incredible facility that will be a huge asset to the community, not only to improve health but well-being too with the dedicated Mary Rose room which will be available to many different community groups. The leisure centre is the culmination of over two years of planning and building and we cannot wait to welcome visitors in a few weeks’ time.”
Lorenzo Clark, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “This state-of-the-art facility is looking fantastic and we cannot wait to open the doors, welcome the public and show them that the centre is one to be proud of."
“With an inclusive offering, Kirkby has something for people from all sections of the community. No matter what your age, ability or interests, there is something for you here. The imminent opening of Kirkby and the raft of upgrades that have been carried out at Everyone Active sites across Ashfield make this a really exciting time for leisure in the District.”
The council consulted with local residents to discover what they wanted from a leisure centre along with neighbours and also members.
Cllr Rachel Madden, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing, said: “I am so proud to say that the Council has delivered a fantastic new leisure centre, one of the best in the area, and the first-ever public swimming pool in Kirkby. Residents now have access to the best possible facilities in three, top of the range, leisure centres across Ashfield.
"I encourage everyone to come down to our grand opening weekend in September to try out the different activities and meet the VIP guests.”
