An upgrade project to one of Reading’s popular leisure centres, complete with more gym space, studios and changing rooms has been finished.

This week, councillors took a tour to survey the improvements at the Meadway Leisure Centre in Tilehurst.

Users of the centre can now benefit from an enlarged gym area with new equipment, new dedicated studio space for exercise and yoga classes, new dry changing rooms and a revamped reception area.

The upgrades were toured by gym users and councillors, who were hosted by Craig Woodward, from the council’s leisure contractor GLL.

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Tilehurst resident Desmond Kelly, said: “I’m a regular user of the gym and the swimming pool. I’ve been coming here to Meadway for the best part of ten years. The old gym was very tired and a bit run down and it’s super now.

“There really is a great advantage to staying fit for your own wellbeing – mental as well as physical because it’s social as well as exercise. It helped me recover from an accident very quickly.”

Fellow user and councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “I use the leisure centre for Badminton, it’s just the first step to improvements and there is more planned for the future.

“The changing rooms are a vast improvement, the reception area is really good and the whole gym area is really good as well.

“If there is one problem, it’s that the frontage needs to be smartened up, as you can miss the entrance quite easily if you are driving.

“I’ve raised this with the council.

“There is still more work to be done, this is only the first step.

“The badminton courts which I play on are due for an update.”

The council is now preparing to refurbish squash courts and the pool changing rooms.

Mr Woodward, partnership manager for GGL in Reading, said: “The improved Meadway Leisure Centre is further great news for local people.

“The benefits these updated facilities will offer the local community are invaluable.  The pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.

“Reading’s new and upgraded leisure provision will offer an inviting and welcoming environment, for all local residents to enjoy, in addition to enabling us to provide dedicated courses and activities that encourage better health and wellbeing.”

Adele Barnet-Ward, lead councillor for leisure, said the Meadway improvements fit into a wider project of upgrading centres across the town at Rivermead, Palmer Park and South Reading as well.

READ MORE: South Reading Leisure Centre upgraded thanks to big investment 

Cllr Barnet-Ward (Labour, Thames) said: “The Commonwealth Games start later this week and are a reminder that high quality, affordable leisure and sporting facilities aren’t just about having fun and keeping fit, important though that is. Our improved leisure centres will help develop Reading’s sporting stars of the future.

“At the end of this year, the new Palmer Park Centre will open, becoming the only leisure centre in the region to offer a 25m 6-lane community pool alongside a velodrome and athletics stadium.

“The new Rivermead centre will follow in 2023 with a 25m 8-lane competition pool with dedicated diving provision.

“As well as the improved facilities across all our leisure sites we are also working to increase physical activity, health and wellbeing across the borough.

“Weight management courses, cardiac and cancer rehabilitation and targeted work in the community is reaching out to those in most need and working to reduce health inequalities.”