Mayor and Team GB athlete Conrad Williams open new leisure and community centre

The £11 million centre was officially opened by the Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Mrs Joan Spiers and Team GB athlete Conrad Williams on 17 October as part of Preston Community Day.

The local community turned up in their hundreds to try out the new facilities, watch demonstrations by local sports clubs and take part in free sports taster sessions including group exercise classes, trampolining, basketball, badminton, table tennis and walking football.

Chelsea Football Club held football skills coaching on the new five-a-side football pitches and the YMCA put on outdoor activities for young adults. And to entertain younger children there was face painting, a bouncy castle and a fun activity trail around the newly revamped Preston Park.

Guests were treated to a tour of the centre’s facilities, which include a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, state-of-the-art fitness gym, four-court multi-use sports hall, an exercise studio, four five-a-side football pitches, a café, a crèche, space for community activities and wet and dry changing rooms.

During the afternoon, pupils from Epsom Downs Primary School put on a special showing of the film they have made documenting the development of the new centre.

There was also the opportunity for local people learn more about the other activities and opportunities in their community and to find out about what’s coming next as part of the Preston regeneration.

Cllr Ros Mill, Executive Member for Leisure & Wellbeing, said: “We are really pleased that Conrad was able to come and help us mark this important occasion and that so many people from the local community came along, got involved and had fun!

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback both from existing centre members and new visitors at the community day who are delighted with their new leisure and community centre.”

The centre is run by GLL, the Council’s leisure management partner.

GLL's Partnership Manager David Hughes said: "The open day was a huge success and we welcomed over 500 visitors through the doors.  We are delighted to be able to share this fantastic new facility with the local community.  Not only does it boast the latest state-of-the-art equipment, but it’s enabled us to extend our programming and we now offer 28 group exercises classes each week, while the new sports hall hosts a range of activities including badminton and table tennis sessions.”

Tadworth Leisure & Community Centre, which opened to the public earlier this month, replaces the old Banstead Leisure Centre, which opened in 1973.