A COUNCIL has invested almost £7m to improve leisure facilities in the borough.

Fareham Borough Council has allocated £6.8m to significantly improve Fareham Leisure Centre which is run by leisure operator, Everyone Active.

The centre has served the community for more than 40 years and last year, the council signalled its desire to improve its facilities.

Work is now set to begin on improvements this week with the new features designed to appeal to audiences across all ages.

A ‘Top Rock’ climbing wall, an indoor splash pad, an extension to the ground floor gym, improvements to existing facilities like the café, dry changing rooms and reception area and additional parking for 32 vehicles are included in the improvements.

Holly Hill Leisure Centre will also benefit from a new steam room and sauna towards the end of 2021.

Ryan Grant, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, commented: “This is the first step towards welcoming the local community to our new and improved centre.

"Fareham Leisure Centre is pivotal in providing a wide range of facilities to the community, and this investment will ensure we can enhance this offering and continue to engage people from all backgrounds in exercise.

“This positive news is welcome after the past few months and we will continue to work hard with Fareham Borough Council and our partner, Vincent Stokes, to ensure that every aspect of the refurbishment is completed to the highest quality.

“We’re delighted to be able to continue improving the lives and wellbeing of people in Fareham and the surrounding areas.”

Both centres will remain open throughout the construction and refurbishment works, which are being split into four phases to minimise disruption.

The council expect all works to be concluded by the end of 2021.