Pool installation starts in flagship new sports centre
04 Mar 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Work on a flagship new sports and leisure complex in Ponteland is progressing rapidly and this week another milestone was reached with the start of the installation of the swimming pools.
In what is a mammoth logistical operation, the giant steel walls, which have been transported from Italy earlier this year, are to be fitted into a specially excavated and formed tank, which will house the 25-metre, 6 lane pool and an adjoining learner pool.
This week, project partners Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland met on site with principal contractors Kier Construction, to witness this significant milestone.
The multi-million pound sports and leisure complex forms part of a new Northumberland County Council funded education and leisure development on Callerton Lane. It will see the existing Ponteland leisure centre replaced with the fantastic new facility and two brand new school facilities - a 1,600 pupil secondary school, a 420 pupil primary school and a 52 place nursery which will serve Ponteland and surrounding communities. It is due to be completed in time for the new school year in September 2020.
Once the steel structures are secure, a membrane pool liner will be fitted after which the pool decks will be tiled. A height adjustable floor to the main pool will be fitted before the pools are filled in June 2020.
At the new leisure complex residents will be able to enjoy a Clip n Climb wall, a soft play, a four court sports hall with indoor cricket nets, a 6 lane pool, learner pool and aqua play. There will also be a full spa experience along with food and beverage spaces, a library and a viewing terrace looking out over the cricket square.
A state of the art 100-station gym will feature designated exercise zones covering functional training, sports performance and strength.
There will also be outdoor sports fields, a multi-use games area and a full size 3G pitch which will be used by both the schools and the local community.
Leader of Northumberland County Council, Peter Jackson said:
“I have watched the progress of this magnificent facility with growing anticipation and it is very exciting to see that we are nearing the final stages of the building’s construction.
“Community will be at the heart of this fantastic new sports centre which has been planned to cater for a range of school groups, families, sports clubs and social groups. It will have first class facilities, be inclusive and accessible to all.”
Northumberland County Councillor, Cath Homer, cabinet member for arts, leisure, culture and tourism said:
“This amazing development is really starting to come to life and we can see what a truly top quality sport and learning environment it will provide for our young people for generations to come.”
The new centre in Ponteland forms part of a huge £65million investment by the county council to transform sport and leisure provision around Northumberland. This includes the building of new leisure centres in Berwick, Morpeth along with major investment to refurbish and revitalise two other centres in Blyth and Hexham and a county wide swimming pool refurbishment scheme.
Phil McDowell, operations director of Kier Regional Building North-East England said:
“We are pleased to celebrate another milestone at Ponteland with the installation of the new swimming pools. The leisure centre is set to provide swim facilities for all, from a six-lane swimming pool to a learner pool and aqua play.
“We are proud to be working with our local supply chain to deliver Ponteland a fantastic development that will offer first-class amenities for residents of Ponteland and the surrounding areas to enjoy for years to come.”
Active Northumberland will manage the leisure centre once it is complete.