HRH to visit the new Oswestry Leisure Centre

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester will visit the new Oswestry Leisure Centre as part of a full day in the county on Thursday 1 December 2011. 

The state-of-the-art centre was opened on 1 October 2011 and has since proved extremely popular with local people, attracting nearly 17,000 visits during the first month of operations, an increase of 17% compared with the same month last year at the old centre. 

His Royal Highness will be taken on a tour of the centre by the architect, Tom Green of Michael Hyde Associates; Peter Davis, Shropshire Council’s principal leisure facilities manager; and Sian Roberts, senior duty manager at the centre, and shown the facilities on offer during his hour-long visit. 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for active and healthy lifestyles, said:

“I am delighted that the Duke will be coming to have a look at the centre, which is a huge step forward for leisure provision in the Oswestry area. 

“The building has many state-of the-art touches which I’m sure the Duke will be very interested in.” 

Martin Bennett, Shrewsbury Councillor for Oswestry East, said:

“The new centre has been in the planning and construction stage for a number of years, and it is great that it is finally open and in use.” 

The centre has replaced the previous 1970s building, which was becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. 

It boasts two swimming pools (a 25m competition pool and a learner pool), a sports hall, fitness suite, activities studio and multi-function room.