Councillor Mike Eathorne-Gibbons, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Customers, has cut the ribbon to officially open St Austell Leisure Centre’s new facilities. In a short speech to assembled guests, he said they were a ‘tremendous improvement in a very short time’.
GLL, the charitable social enterprise that took on the management of all Cornwall’s leisure centres from 1 April 2017, has invested £800,000 in a new gym and fitness studio. Some new dryside changing rooms have also been developed and the café and reception areas have been refurbished.
Those attending the opening included Mayor of St Austell, Councillor Graham Walker, local councillors and members of the centre’s customer forum.
“We’re delighted that the new facilities are up and running and would like to thank everyone involved in getting us to this point,” said GLL’s regional director Juliette Dickinson. “The last year has been challenging in terms of achieving all we felt we needed to do as quickly as possible – including six gym refurbishments and transforming Bodmin Leisure Centre. We’re very committed, though, and are now looking forward to getting on with projects in Helston, Bude and Newquay.”
GLL’s contract with Cornwall Council is for 25 years and, as a social enterprise, the organisation re-invests all its profits into improvements.
Mevagissey councillor James Mustoe uses the leisure centre on a daily basis as part of a new fitness regime that has already seen him lose five stone. “Thanks to the partnership between the gym users at Polkyth, GLL and Cornwall Council, we now have a gym which we can be really proud of,” he said. “I hope that, in time, funding will be available to update the rest of the facilities at Polkyth. In the meantime, I would encourage anyone in the St Austell area who would like to get fit or stay active, to check out the fantastic new facilities!”
St Austell Leisure Centre will be holding an open weekend on 12 and 13 May. For more information, visit the website.