River Park Leisure Centre refurbishment
Winchester City Council's Cabinet will be considering a report on the agreed and planned refurbishment of the River Park Leisure Centre at their meeting in October.The work is due to be carried out over three-months from April 2006 and will mean that areas of the centre will close for periods during the programme.
The pool complex, wet changing rooms and the function room will be out of action for the whole period as much of the work involves maintenance and replacing of equipment affecting the pool, including heat exchangers, swimming pool filters, boilers, pipe work, roof access and some electrical rewiring.
The whole of the centre is scheduled to be closed for a two-week period, one at the beginning of the work programme, and one near the end. The dry side sports hall and changing room will be closed for 8 weeks at the start of the work, and again during the whole closure towards the end of the work.
Apart from when the whole centre is closed, the Kinetica gym and changing rooms, Studios 1 and 2, squash courts, the Elements health and beauty suite, main reception and the outdoor areas will remain open.
"River Park Leisure Centre is one of the most important public facilities in Winchester", said the Council's Cabinet portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport, Cllr Therese Evans.
"The Council intends to keep it in first class condition by carrying out this refurbishment. We have a programme of planned and preventative maintenance, replacing equipment and plant before it fails and the work being carried out now will ensure that the centre operates for at least the next 10 years," she added.
Current estimates of the work are around £1.4m and a contractor is due to be appointed before the end of year. Users of the Centre will be kept fully informed of progress and closures as firm dates become known.