WOODLEY BOSSES have announced they are waiting for the 'green light' from the government before opening the newly built Bulmershe Leisure Centre.

The £14.5 million leisure centre on Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, was expected to open earlier than originally planned, on April 22, however the coronavirus pandemic meant that the opening date had to be set back.

The leisure centre has now been fully constructed, featuring a six-lane swimming pool that's 6 metres long, a teaching pool with a moveable floor, a bigger gym, a long-term condition gym, a four-court sports hall, a studio, and a cafe.

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Councillor Parry Batth, Earley resident and executive member for environment and leisure, said: "We were ready to open, but were held back by the crisis.

"The leisure centre is ready, but we are still waiting for the green light from the central government.

"The opening could well be towards the end of July, but we haven't been told firmly, so we are in a state of preparedness in case we get the go ahead."

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"We knew that it would take a couple of weeks for us to be in a total state of readiness, because currently all the centres are closed, but we are preparing ourselves now for reopening."

A spokesman for the Wokingham Borough Council said: "We are waiting for government approval to open under Covid-19 guidance."