Shipston leisure centre official opening

The new leisure facility at Shipston-on-Stour in south Warwickshire will be officially opened this Saturday 14 January by ex-Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has spent over £2m on the leisure centre, which is located in the High School and comprises a five-lane 25 metre pool, air-conditioned health and fitness suite, changing accommodation and a spectator lounge. District Council Chairman Cllr Tony Dixon will invite Sharron Davies to officially declare the new leisure centre open.

The new leisure centre has been built to replace the old school swimming pool on an adjacent site. The District Council worked on the £2.15m project with Warwickshire County Council who own the school and land. Detailed designs for the proposals were put out to consultation with the local community, which showed there was wide support for new quality leisure facilities to be provided in Shipston and the Stour area.

The contract to design and build the new pool was awarded to Leadbitter Construction Ltd of Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Work started in October 2004. Sports Leisure Management (SLM) were awarded the contract to manage the leisure centre. SLM also manage the Southam, Stratford and Studley leisure facilities on behalf of the District Council.