Palmer Park leisure centre opens after a huge upgrade project

Palmer Park Leisure Centre closed in April so that an upgrade could be undertaken.

Now the leisure centre features a new gym, indoor play area,  café and information hub, changing rooms and a £36,000 wayfinding route for those with visual impairments to easily get around the park.

It also sports a new 25 metre swimming pool which has been built to competition standards, and a ‘pool pod’ which allows disabled people to access the pool as well.

The leisure centre reopened (Monday, December 19).

Celebrating the news, councillor Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames) said: “We promised the residents of Reading a community pool at Palmer Park and we have delivered on that promise.

“I am delighted residents will be able to enjoy the new and improved facilities over the Christmas break and those of us making New Year resolutions to go to the gym more often will also have a 100-station gym with beautiful views across the park.”

Critics of the council have argued  that the upgrade to the leisure centre should have been completed in 2020, to replace Arthur Hill Pool in Cemetery Junction which closed in December 2016 and is currently being transformed into key worker housing.

However, the council only appointed its leisure contractor Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), which trades under the ‘Better’ facility brand in 2021.

Craig Woodward, GLL’s Partnership Manager for Reading said: “At Palmer Park we now have state-of-the-art leisure facilities for the people of Reading.

“The benefits of these new facilities for the local community are huge.

“Reading’s improved 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.”

Those who wish to use the centre can do so on either a pay-as-you-go or through memberships.

Credit: Reading Chronicle