The new Dorchester Sports Centre will officially open its doors to the public on Monday October 22.
As Great Britain looks back on what has been a sensational summer for sport the local community of Dorchester can look forward to enjoying a new outstanding sports facility.
The new £8 million sports centre on Coburg Road will provide, first-class swimming and fitness facilities which may inspire a new generation of Olympic hopefuls as well as encouraging local people to take up a healthy lifestyle as well as sport.
Following the completion of the new centre,1610 leisure trust has now been awarded the contract by West Dorset District Council to take over the management of the new centre. After a competitive tendering process, the leisure trust was awarded the ‘preferred bidder’ status for the operating contract earlier this year.
The new centre has been developed by West Dorset District Council in partnership with Dorset County Council and The Thomas Hardye School. The Duchy of Cornwall has also contributed to funding and the project has been supported by the Dorchester Swimming Bath Trustees and Sport England.
The new facilities include a six-lane swimming pool with spectator gallery, a learner pool, dance studio, a state-of-the-art fitness studio, changing village and improved car parking. The centre will be used both by local schools and the community during all opening hours.
The Chief Executive of 1610, Tim Nightingale says that the leisure trust is delighted to have been selected for the role in managing such an exciting leisure project: “ 2012 is an outstanding year for sport, and Dorchester has had some of the world’s best athletes competing on its doorstep this summer so it is only fitting that as part of that legacy, local people have a first class sports facility of their own to enjoy. We will be working closely with the local school and community to deliver an inspiring package of activities and events at the centre to live up to the outstanding facilities on offer at the site.”
Leader of West Dorset District Council, Cllr Robert Gould said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the opening of this excellent new sports facility. The district council has put more than £4 million into this project so that the local community can enjoy brand new swimming and fitness facilities. “There has been a real demand for these improved facilities in West Dorset and we are so pleased that we can now deliver what residents have asked for, particularly in such an important year for sport. “I would particularly like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding while the building work at the new centre has been completed.”
Councillor Toni Coombs, cabinet member for Children’s Services at Dorset County Council commented: “Dorset hosted the Olympic Sailing events this summer and the whole county is feeling inspired, active and keen to make the most of locations like the new Dorchester Sports Centre. Having these fantastic new facilities available for schools and the public– particularly in a year which has given our sporting young people such inspiration – is very good news.”
The Head teacher for Thomas Hardye School, Mike Foley also believes that the new facilities will prove to be a great asset for the area: “This is an exciting time for sport in Dorchester and I am looking forward to working with 1610 to develop opportunities for our young people in school and in the wider community. These fantastic facilities will give us a chance to increase participation and aim for sporting excellence in the years ahead. What better legacy could we have from the summer of 2012?”
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales toured the new centre as part of a visit to Dorchester in June.
Breakdown of funding from partners involved with sports centre project:
The new sports centre has cost approximately £8 million to build with funding from the following sources:
. West Dorset District Council £4.2 million
. Dorset County Council £1.6 million
. Section 106 money from the Poundbury development (for recreation facilities) £830,000
. Sport England £600,000
. Section 106 money from the Poundbury development (for education facilities) £500,000
. Dorchester Swimming Bath Trustees £72,000
Once the new centre opens, the old swimming pools will be decommissioned but the existing sports hall will continue to be available to the community.
1610 is a non-profit making leisure trust (formerly Somerset Leisure) which manages 17 leisure centres based on school sites across Somerset and Devon. 1610 aims to help people live fuller, richer lives through having an active body and an active mind.
See some photos of the new facilities: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorsetforyou/sets/72157631752173807/
