The Centre car park to close as demolition begins

Work to create a state of the art leisure facility on the Centre site, Farnham Road begins next week with demolition of the old building.

The Centre, which has been closed since November 2016, was built in 1997 and is now being replaced with a brand new leisure facility.

The brand new leisure centre will include:
• 25 m, eight lane, swimming pool
• 15m by 10m teaching pool with moveable floor
• unisex changing village (wet)
• poolside sauna and steam room
• four court sports hall
• 135 station gym
• three exercise studios
• male and female changing facilities (dry)
• café
• treatment rooms

The demolition starts as the council releases the latest artist’s impressions on how the new building will look inside and out.

The work will be undertaken by Slough Urban Renewal (SUR) a partnership between Slough Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments Ltd which is driving regeneration across the town including in leisure, housing, community and school buildings.

Councillor Joginder Bal, commissioner for leisure and environment, said: “The demolition of the old centre is a major step forward for the project to bring the latest and best leisure facilities to the borough.

“Our investment in leisure will bring a once in a lifetime change for residents – with brand new and refurbished facilities, new and traditional activities, new equipment and more; all to help more people get more active, more often.

“The new leisure centre will be one of our flagship facilities and I know the team is excited to get started.”

He continued: “Seeing the artist’s impression show how immense and impressive the facility will be and how it will lift the whole area and improve the whole view along the Farnham Road.

“The quality of the building and provision is very important to us – this is a facility built to last.”

Andy Howell, SUR general manager, said: “We are delighted to be working on our second leisure project after the success of the construction of Arbour Park.

“The new leisure centre will be a destination of choice for residents and it will be very exciting seeing the plans come to fruition.”

Before demolition begins, we advise parents to find alternative drop-off points

As demolition begins, the car park for the Centre will be closed for all-day parking – though a small area will be made available for school drop off and pick up for the two senior schools in the area – Herschel Grammar and Eden Girls – and The Centre nursery.

Access to the school drop off areas will be off Whitby Road and Buckingham Avenue, however parents are being warned to expect congestion and are being encouraged to use alternative modes of transport or to drop their children further away from school and walk.

Councillor Bal added: “Every school parent knows the school run and parking around schools can be horrendous and for at least the next year the car park of the old Centre will not be available for any longer-term parking but only for drop off and pick up; there will also be large vehicles moving in and out of the demolition site.

“The safety of the children is our utmost concern and we would encourage parents of young people at Herschel and Eden to look now at their school routine and consider alternatives to dropping their children off, by car, right by the gates.”