A £33m council-funded leisure centre has been opened by Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Leighton Buzzard.
The Leighton Leisure and Community Centre has been backed by a £33.9m investment from Central Bedfordshire Council, with the ribbon cutting ceremony having taken place on Saturday.
It involved the centre being opened by Paralympic swimming champions Maisie Summers-Newton MBE and Olivia Newman-Baronius, as well as Olympic athletics star Colin Jackson CBE.
The centre is to be operated by Everyone Active on behalf of the local authority and will cater to residents living in Leighton Buzzard and its surrounding area.
Replacing the previous Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, the new space is kitted out with upgraded facilities that promote inclusivity and accessibility, including:
- An eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool and a learner pool
- A 150-station gym with Technogym equipment
- Two fully accessible Changing Places facilities
- Group exercise, cycling and Reformer studios
- Wellness facilities, including hydromassage beds
- Three treatment rooms available for hire
- Community rooms and meeting spaces
Over 3500 members of the community were present at the Family Fun Day on Saturday, where residents were offered tours, demonstrations, and taster sessions.
Cllr Steven Watkins, Executive Member for Assets, Business and Housing at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: ‘We are proud to officially open our fifth new leisure centre, demonstrating our long-term commitment to improving opportunity and quality of life across our communities.’
He added: ‘With its range of leisure and community facilities, we hope it will become a real hub for local people and be enjoyed for many years to come.’
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