New Leisure and Fitness Centre ensures a healthy future for Aberavon Seafront

Aberavon’s new £13.4m Leisure and Fitness Centre was today (24 February) officially opened by Neath Port Talbot Council Leader Cllr Ali Thomas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The centre is the largest and latest addition to a range of new and planned future attractions for Aberavon seafront and has already proved very popular since opening its doors at the start of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The purpose-built beachfront centre, with its distinctive wave design roof, features a 25m pool with moveable floor; multiple changing facilities, gym/fitness suite, spin room, dance studio, four court sports hall, cafe and community rooms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Managed by Celtic Community Leisure, the facility will provide a major boost for the Seafront as a leisure destination for residents and visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In recent years, the Council has carried out an extensive programme of regeneration at Aberavon Seafront. Over £5.2m has been invested in infrastructure and environmental improvements, with around £4m of this coming through external funding such as the European funded Green Sea Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These include new seating and signage, toddlers and older children’s play areas, a new skateboard park, the redesign of the sunken gardens and new car parks at Ocean Way, Bay View and Scarlet Avenue. A seaside-themed Adventure Golf course is also planned, with grant funding secured from the Coastal Communities Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ceremony saw the unveiling of a commemorative plaque within the Centre’s reception which houses a café open to all beachfront visitors as well as Centre users. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: “I am delighted to see that local residents, schools and visitors are enjoying the facilities on offer at Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as providing first class sports, leisure and fitness facilities, this landmark building is also a focal point for our regeneration strategy for the area. The money which the Council has secured for the Seafront is drawing in private sector investment and we will continue to work alongside our partners to maintain the progress we have made”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This Centre in particular will play a major part in ensuring that come rain or shine Aberavon Seafront is a fantastic year-round destination for residents and visitors alike”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Russell Ward, Chief Executive of Celtic Leisure said: “We are delighted to be operating the superb facilities at the new Leisure Centre”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​