Rebecca Adlington backs 'exciting' plans for new Bramcote Leisure Centre

An Olympic champion paid a visit to an "ageing" leisure centre ahead of plans to build new and improved facilities nearby. Two-time Olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington, met with councillors, employees and consultants at Bramcote Leisure Centre back in December while Broxtowe Borough Council await planning approval and funding to build a new centre nearby.

It comes after the existing centre was told it would get more than £200,000 worth of repairs to address the risks of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) back in March. The Mansfield-born swimmer recalled memories of competing at the centre at the beginning of her career, before going on to win two gold medals at the Beijing 2009 and London 2012 Olympics.

Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, councillor Milan Radulovic, said: ‘We were delighted to welcome Rebecca Adlington to the borough to discuss our plans to create a new and improved leisure centre at Bramcote. We know that the centre needs to be improved along with our swimming provision which we know many residents make good use of.

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"We’re committed to creating a new leisure centre that will replace this ageing leisure centre, as well as finding opportunities for new leisure provision in the north of the borough." Deputy leader, councillor Greg Marshall, added: "We’re really excited to be on the verge of putting our plans into action and begin working on what is going to be a fantastic new addition for the borough.

"It was great to meet with Rebecca Adlington, listen to her stories of how she remembered competing at Bramcote and look to the future for a brand new facility that all our residents can enjoy."

Adrian Turner, the development consultant at the new facility says the plans look to provide a leisure facility that the "people of Bramcote will love" and says that ageing pools like these represent a majority of facilities across the country. He added that he "cannot wait" to start building in 2025 - although the plans are yet to be given the green light.

Portfolio holder for leisure and health, Councillor Teresa Cullen, said: ‘It was a pleasure to meet with Rebecca and discuss our plans for a new leisure centre. Our residents deserve to enjoy the best of facilities to help support their health and wellbeing.

"We know many of our residents learn to swim at Bramcote Leisure Centre and so we want to make sure we provide a new and improved swimming pool."