NEW OPENING
The centre offers fitness and activity classes for all ages
TOP COMPETITION The range of competition-standard fa- cilities and the strong links with NGB’s has made the centre a natural choice for many elite championships. In the first three weeks of opening,
Plymouth Life Centre played host to the British Gas Elite Junior Diving Champi- onships as well as South West regional junior bowls and netball tournaments. The success of these events has meant further national and regional compe- titions are to be hosted in a variety of sports in the near future. “With the exception of major compe-
titions, one of our main goals is to allow uninterrupted public access to the facili- ties, even when competitions are taking place, having such an array of multi-func- tional facilities has allowed us to achieve this,” Greenwood explains.
Choreographed dance classes inspire many younger members
BUILDING FOR LEISURE Plymouth Council appointed Balfour Be- atty to undertake the construction of the centre, given the company’s track record in delivering Olympic standard facilities, such as the London Aquatic Centre, the Sunder- land Aquatic and Wellness Centre and the National Academy in Sterling. The £46.5m, 18,200 sq m development
replaces two older facilities – the May- flower Leisure Centre and Central Park pools – which were demolished and the space returned to parkland as part of the wider Central Park regeneration. “The Plymouth Life Centre is also key to wider regeneration plans for Central Park, by helping to create and sustain local jobs and ensure that the city remains compet- itive and well-placed to attract further investment in the future,” says regional director for SLM Jon Senior.
There are glimpses of the family pool
and flumes as you pass through reception, giving a feel of the community-centred ethos of the centre. This then gives way to the rest of the aquatics centre – the largest of its kind in southern England, outside of the Olympic village. The centre has the only 10-lane, 50m competition pool in the South West region, as well as a family pool with beach entry and flumes. The pool also features a moveable floor, with starting blocks and timing pads hav- ing been added to the moveable boom, so that the pool size can be reduced from 50m to 25m when required. The diving facilities are some of the
Playing host to the South West regional junior bowls tournament
best in the UK with boards at three, five, seven and a half, and 10m in the 25m, six-lane diving pool. Bubble release and water spray agitate the surface of the water to lessen the impact forces and video playback allows athletes and coaches to review each dive, increasing the effectiveness of training. A dry dive training facility, equipped with trampo- lines, springboards, harnesses, crashmats and other specialist equipment allows athletes to practice out of the water. The aquatics centre is not the only
draw. A 160-station fitness suite includes CV and strength lines and provides mem- bers and guests with the opportunity for bespoke and programmed workout experiences. A 530sq m, 16m-high climbing zone
provides a challenge for adrenaline seek- ers, featuring a bouldering zone and an aerial assault course. In addition the centre boasts a 12-court multi-use sports hall suitable for badminton, five-a-side football, basketball, netball and tram- polining. Two squash courts (with a moveable wall to create a multi-purpose
Issue 4 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online
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