Work begins today on a new leisure centre and pool in Rivermead.

Construction is expected to begin at the facility, which will include an eight lane competition pool, six-court sports hall and a 120-station gym.

The development will form part of a £40m council project, which includes a separate community pool in Palmer Park.

Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Sport, said: “Today we have both major builds at Rivermead and Palmer Park underway. This well and truly provides residents with tangible evidence of our commitment to delivering the new facilities.

“Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past year, the Council and our leisure partners, Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), remain fully committed to delivering the modern new leisure facilities a town of our size and status deserves.”

Read more: Rivermead and Palmer Park swimming pool costs rise by £2 million

The news comes after Reading Central Pool and Arthur Hill Swimming Pool were levelled to make way for housing and a care home site.

The council aim to complete the Rivermead development by Spring 2023 and the work in Palmer Park by late 2022, alongside improvements at South Reading and Meadway leisure centres starting later this year.

The existing leisure centre will remain open until the new one is completed, but its associated play area was closed today for safety reasons while construction is underway.

Paul Shearman, GLL’s Partnership Manager for Reading said: “The benefits that the new Rivermead leisure centre and pool will offer the local community are huge.

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight; offering a modern, welcoming, state-of-the-art environment will undoubtedly encourage greater participation.”

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As of July 1, GLL operates all of Reading’s four leisure centres on the Council’s behalf, including: Meadway Leisure Centre, South Reading Leisure Centre, Palmer Park Sports Stadium and Rivermead Leisure Centre.

Any parents wishing to take their children to another playground could go to Christchurch Meadows or Beresford Road play area.