A visitors’ information cabin, showing plans, layouts, materials and models of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, is now open. The new leisure centre is being built off Holywell Hill in St Albans to replace the current leisure facility. The visitors’ information cabin, which is open seven days a week 7am – 10pm, is located right next to the entrance of the current leisure centre, alongside the building site. Visitors can also see the building works in progress on the construction site from the cabin, which was previously the site of a car park serving the existing Westminster Lodge and Abbey Theatre.
The visitor cabin gives detailed information about the facilities in the new centre. The first floor gym and exercise studios, accommodating up to 180 pieces of equipment including cardio vascular and resistance apparatus, will have spectacular views of the Abbey and Verulamium Park. There will also be a youth gym and chill out space. There are to be two exercise studios with sprung floors for dance, aerobics or for community based activities. The studios have a central folding partition and can be opened up into a single large space for functions and special events. There will also be a small spinning studio for around 20 spinning bikes. For younger residents the new centre will have a crèche and soft play area which can also be used for children’s parties, Yoga, Pilates, and community use.
In the split level spa there will be a walk in hydro spa pool, an aroma steam room, Kelo (scented) sauna, hot rooms and monsoon and bucket showers. The spa will have under floor heating and will be fully accessible for people with disabilities. Also featured are pedicure and nail bars, treatment rooms and a relaxation lounge opening onto an external sun terrace with views of the Abbey and Verulamium Park to the west. The new 4-court sports hall with a semi-sprung floor will accommodate a range of sports including badminton, basketball, volleyball, 5-a-side football, netball, gymnastics, trampolining, short tennis, handball, table tennis, martial arts, community events and much more. A 12m high climbing wall and standalone pinnacle will offer a variety of climbing routes from beginner to expert levels.
There are three pools in the new Westminster Lodge; a 25m x 21m ten lane main pool with 50% moveable floor, a 17m x 10m teaching pool with a 100% moveable floor, and a confidence water area for young children providing shallow water and fun play elements including water spouts, slides, showers and interactive wet play equipment. A spectator balcony for 250 people is being built above the main pool. The swimming pool flexibility will allow the Council to provide a diverse range of water sports for all the community from recreational, training and short course competition swimming, to water polo, synchronised swimming, sub-aqua, canoe training and under water hockey. The main pool includes a platform lift for people with disabilities. The new Westminster lodge Leisure Centre Café / Bistro will also be accessible directly from Verulamium Park for use by park visitors and theatre goers. It will have an external terrace overlooking the Park’s Meadow Area and with views to the Abbey in the distance.
Cllr Mike Wakely, Portfolio Holder for Sports Leisure and Heritage a St Albans City & District Council commented: "We are inviting residents to view and comment on the finishes that have been chosen. You can let us know what you think by emailing leisure@stalbans.gov.uk. Having listened to the suggestions of the Willmott Dixon construction team, in my view it could be argued that the finishes are better than before we undertook the value engineering exercise in order to deliver the improved 10 lane pool. This decisive and effective exercise was taken by the Council's new leadership team and will result in a main pool that is 25% bigger within the original budget." The new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre is due to open in Autumn 2012.
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