Milton Keynes Council has officially announced that Hertsmere Leisure has been awarded a contract to run 8 of their community facilities and their new Bletchley Leisure Centre. The new multimillion pound Bletchley Leisure Centre will be formally opened to the public on Saturday 9th January 2010 with the old leisure centre closing its doors to the public for the final time on Sunday 20th December 2009.

Hertsmere Leisure Trust has been chosen to run the new £21 million leisure centre facility in partnership with the Council and will be busy preparing for the January opening in the forthcoming months.

The new centre will boast the following facilities: 25 metre 8 lane swimming pool, sauna, steam room, 4 squash courts, 6 badminton court sports hall, gymnastics hall, multipurpose hall, fitness room, spin studio, 7 rink bowls hall and café, all of which will be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Milton Keynes Council leisure spokesperson Paul Sanders said “We have come a long way with this regeneration project for Bletchley and now that we are nearing completion of the leisure centre element I can say that we are delighted to be forming this new operational partnership with the Hertsmere Trust. With the transfer from the old centre to the new one straddling Christmas, a traditional time when leisure centres often close for maintenance works, this couldn’t be better timed and a great New Year start when many people want to make those resolutions to get more active and fitter”

Cabinet member for Communities Cllr Vanessa McPake said “This is a real boost for Bletchley. I have such fond memories of my own child learning to swim in the old centre. I am really looking forward to an exciting time ahead in getting the citizens of Bletchley and Milton Keynes more active and more often in the new facility”

Craig Millar, SDC Director responsible for delivery of the scheme said “Many of us at SDC will always have a soft spot for this project; having been involved with this scheme from concept to completion we feel a part of the community in delivering something for everyone in Bletchley and beyond. A project that we are all proud to have been a part of”

Hertsmere Leisure Trust’s Chief Executive, Phil Collins added “We are absolutely delighted to be chosen as the operator of the new Bletchley Leisure Centre and are very much looking forward to working with Milton Keynes Council to ensure the facilities are accessible for all and to provide the highest possible quality of service”

For centre information and expressions of interest for booking the new Bletchley Leisure Centre facility please contact Alice Webb at Hertsmere Leisure between 9.30am and 2.30pm Mon – Fri on 01727 744250.

Click here to see the latest up-to-date information on developments at Bletchley Leisure Centre.