Powys County Council And Freedom Leisure Invest £1.9million Into Leisure Facilities Across Powys

Freedom Leisure, in partnership with Powys County Council, is investing £1.9m in upgrading the leisure facilities at Brecon Leisure Centre, Flash Leisure Centre and Rhayader Leisure Centre as part of their commitment to providing excellent health and fitness facilities for the whole community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The not-for-profit leisure trust became the council’s official partner when they took over the management of the county’s 15 sports and leisure centres in July 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All three centres will receive brand new fitness equipment, which will include upgrading the centres’ disability offering with the addition of easy-use inclusive fitness equipment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhayader Leisure Centre will receive an investment of £335,000 to transform the existing lounge into a 35 station gym, helping to meet the demand for this provision locally. Other improvements include the addition of a dedicated exercise studio to enable a wider variety of group exercise classes to be held. Work is planned to begin in May 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Brecon Leisure Centre will see an investment of £485,000 in improvement work to update the décor in the gym areas. Freedom Leisure will be expanding the gym to become a state-of-the-art fitness suite, with all the latest equipment. In order to accommodate an exciting new and expanded fitness facility the gym will be relocated into the former ten pin bowling area. The existing gym will be transformed into an additional studio, allowing for Freedom Leisure to offer more group exercise classes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The largest of the three projects with an investment of £1.1m will see a total transformation of Flash Leisure Centre in Welshpool with work due to begin in the summer of 2016. On the first floor, Freedom Leisure will transform the existing catering area into a state-of-the-art fitness facility. The new gym will also include a dedicated functional training area, to allow people to work out away from the machines. To ease the pressure on reception staff during peak times, the centre will also benefit from a new, self-serve kiosk. A new joint café and reception will be created offering a fresh look and a more accessible, open and customer-friendly area. Finally, upstairs, Freedom Leisure will be converting the existing meeting room into a dedicated indoor cycling studio. On the lower floor, Freedom Leisure will transform the existing gym into a new dance studio, to allow the centre to offer more dedicated group classes. . ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are delighted to be embarking on these improvement works which will greatly enhance the fitness and leisure experience of the local communities in each of these three areas,” says Freedom Leisure Area Manager Gwyn Owen. “As a not-for-profit leisure trust we are committed to providing exciting and affordable leisure facilities that will help drive participation and contribute to improving the health and wellbeing across Powys.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Graham Brown, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “I’m delighted that these improvement works will be going ahead over the coming months. This investment is only possible thanks to our strong partnership with Freedom Leisure. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m sure this announcement will be welcomed by customers who use the three centres and I hope the improvements will encourage more and more people to use these excellent facilities. It is vital that every visit to the county’s leisure centres is an enjoyable and rewarding experience and encourages people of all ages to keep fit and active.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work is due to commence this spring at Rhayader with a likely completion in July, Brecon will start in July/August until September and the Flash development will begin in July/August with completion due in October 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Freedom Leisure will endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum and will provide regular updates on all the schemes for existing and new customers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​