Date posted 06 Jan 2022
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Councillor Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Council and Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Equalities visited Thamesmere Leisure Centre this week, as refurbishment gets underway.  

They met with Councillor Averil Lekau and GLL Partnership Manager Richard Gallagher to see the exciting works in progress, as well as chatting to residents who are already enjoying the centre.  

As part of a £500k investment into local leisure facilities, run in partnership with GLL, Thamesmere will see its studio and gym revamped. Improvements will include air conditioning, flooring, lighting and decoration.  

Cllr Khaireh said, “It’s been brilliant to see first-hand how this investment is benefiting our leisure centres and hear from residents just how important these facilities are to their families.” 

“In the wake of the pandemic, the health and wellbeing of our residents is more important than ever and these improvements will provide top class leisure facilities for everyone to enjoy.” 

Other centres set to benefit from the investment include Waterfront Leisure Centre, Greenwich Centre, Eltham Centre, Sutcliffe Park Sport Centre, Coldharbour Leisure Centre and Plumstead Centre.  

Leisure is seen as a key part of public provision in the borough and the 29-year partnership between the Council and GLL aims to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, while also providing job opportunities for local people.  

The Eltham Centre will get a much-needed refurb to the gym and studio, plus a state-of-the-art group cycle studio with 55 bikes and ‘always-on’ virtual classes. The 15-year-old steam room is also set to be replaced.  

At Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre, works will be undertaken to enhance the hugely popular existing soft play feature with a dedicated facility for toddlers and an extension for older children.  

To make centres even more welcoming, traditional desk reception areas will be transformed into ‘welcome areas’ with concierge style customer units at The Eltham Centre, Thamesmere, Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre, and the Greenwich Centre.  

In addition to lighting and décor improvements, centres will have refreshments to wall art at Waterfront, Eltham, Thamesmere, Coldharbour and Plumstead Centres to enhance aesthetic appeal.  External signage will also be improved at Waterfront, Thamesmere, Coldharbour and Eltham.  

GLL Partnership Manager Richard Gallagher said: “We hope these investments into the look and feel of centres will encourage customers to return in greater numbers.”  

“Covid has had made a big dent in people’s confidence and in their health. But working in partnership with Royal Borough of Greenwich we are doing all we can to address this and help the wider recovery in health and opportunity.”