Winchester Sport & Leisure Park pools set to make a splash!
The new sport & leisure park has reached another significant milestone as the final touches of the construction of the 50m competition pool and 20m teaching pool are now underway by Willmott Dixon.
With the state-of-the-art leisure centre on course to open in spring 2021, we’re taking a closer look at some of the pool-related features that local people can look forward to experiencing.
50m competition pool
This eight lane facility has been designed to cater for regional swimming events, lane swimming, lessons and varying training levels. This pool boasts cutting-edge features such as a submersible boom to divide the pool with a moveable floor across one half. The building also has enhanced acoustic treatment to enable coaching and easy communication with reduced background noise.
The main pool will also be fitted with Swiss Timing technology, which generates both visual and audible signals – ideal for local and elite level competitions and accessible to the hearing and visually impaired.
20m teaching pool
This ‘warm-up and cool-down pool’ is well suited suited to learners and leisure swimming and is equipped with a fully adjustable mobile floor, perfect for building water confidence and for beginners.
This pool has been designed to meet the needs of all users, and the poolside platform lift will allow the use of fully reclined flatbed trollies and wheelchairs to accommodate paraplegic, tetraplegic and bariatric swimmers and those recovering from injury.
Splash Pad
In addition to the two pools, a family friendly fun water play area will give toddlers a chance to gain confidence while paddling with parental supervision. The splash pad has been designed to have little or no standing water, so there is reduced risk to small children.
Hydrotherapy pool
The hydrotherapy pool, funded by The Pinder Trust, will prove invaluable for patients with long term health conditions - with warm water treatments to offer pain relief. The area will be equipped with fully accessible changing facilities, steps and assisted pool hoist.
Members of the public will also be welcome to use this facility to relieve their own sports injuries and general relaxation.
Cllr Malcolm Prince, Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Communities, said:
“We know that swimming is a great way to support our physical and mental health and our new Sport & Leisure Park will provide everybody with a chance to enjoy the water. It has been a priority for the council to make the state of the art facility as accessible as possible and we’ve gone above and beyond to cater for everyone, from weekend paddlers to elite level competitions, and make the facility as multiuse as possible.”
Richard Poulter, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon added,
“We are proud to achieve this significant milestone. Our site team have embedded the Government-backed Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures to enable the site to continue operating safely, supporting the local economy and supply chain partners as we progress with this great project."