William Penn Leisure Centre Refurbishment
WILLIAM PENN LEISURE CENTRE IS OPEN
William Penn Leisure Centre opened the doors to its new 25 metre, 4 lane Main Pool as well as a fantastic 12 metre Teaching Pool on Tuesday 4th May. Complemented by fully accessible changing facilities including disabled, family and group changing rooms, the new pool will be re launching their Swim Academy Lesson Programme from 17th May 2010.
The new Pool Programme is designed to cater for everyone and includes early morning, lunchtime and evening lane swimming, casual sessions and Aqua Aerobic classes. Free Swimming is also available to all customers under the age of 19 and over 60.
The Centre will be celebrating the great new facilities on Sunday 30th May with a free Open Day for everyone from 10am to 4pm! Visitors can take part in a whole range of activities and taster sessions including free swimming, fitness classes, cheerleading and trampolining, face painting, balloon modelling, Jazz Band and special guest appearances throughout the day from Peppa Pig!
For full details about new pool timetable at William Penn Leisure Centre and their Open Day you can visit www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk.
William Penn Leisure Centre is owned and funded by Three Rivers District Council, and managed by Hertsmere Leisure Trust. To find out more information on classes, the sports hall, squash courts, crèche, health and beauty or the external multi use games areas contact 01923 771050 or visit www.williampennleisure.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the refurbishment taken so long?
Three Rivers District Council apologises for the extended delay to the refurbishment of William Penn Leisure Centre. The Council terminated the employment of the previous main contractor in February 2009, due to repeated delays and poor quality workmanship. Unfortunately completion works and independent surveys revealed further extensive defects, which had to be corrected to ensure that the finished building is of the highest possible quality and reliability.
How much has it cost to finish the works?
Final accounts for the refurbishment will now be prepared, and will be reported to Councillors and the public in due course. Disputes over liability have not been allowed to delay the works; therefore the Council has made provision to finance contractors from its capital reserves with a view to recovering costs after completion.
Who is responsible for the delay?
The causes of the delays to the refurbishment are disputed between the Council and its former contractors, and it may take some time before final liability and responsibility are established. The Council’s immediate priority has been to complete the scheme as quickly as possible, while ensuring high quality and value for money. A detailed open scrutiny of the entire procurement process, identifying any lessons to be learned for future projects, will begin as soon as any contractual disputes have been resolved.
Are the venue’s management or staff responsible?
None of the responsibility for the poor execution of this project rests with Hertsmere Leisure Trust, which operates William Penn Leisure Centre on behalf of the Council. Its managers and staff have experienced the same repeated disappointments, inconvenience and frustrations of this project as have the building’s customers.
What about the spa?
The Council decided in June 2007 that a decision on the fitting out of the health suite area should be postponed until the final costs of the scheme were known with more certainty. Services to the health suite have therefore been installed, although the room itself has not been equipped. A provision for this equipment currently remains within the scheme budget.
What will the opening times be and how much will swimming cost?
Hertsmere Leisure Trust will open the main pool from 6.30am to 10.00pm Monday-Friday, 7.30am to 7.30pm Saturday, and 7.30am to 8.30pm Sunday. The inclusion of the new learner pool and increased changing capacity within the refurbishment means that general public swimming can be guaranteed for all but a few hours of each week. Hertsmere Leisure have pledged that prices will be as low as possible, and that rates will be comparable with those applied before the refurbishment, adjusted for inflation. They are also aiming to harmonise the charges at William Penn Leisure Centre and the Sir James Altham Pool in South Oxhey which they also manage on behalf of the Council.
Will I need to be a member to use the facilities?
No. The main and learner pools will be available for casual swimming at most times of the week. There will also be a range of membership offers with attractive discounts for frequent swimmers, as well as an increased range of classes and activities for all ages and abilities. More information about activities is available at reception, by phoning 01923 771050 or at www.williampennleisure.co.uk
What about free swimming?
In April 2009 Three Rivers District Council launched iSwimforFree for everyone aged 19 and under, and everyone aged over 60 years. From 4 May 2010 free swimming will be available all year round during all public swimming times (excluding lessons) at William Penn Leisure Centre as well as at Sir James Altham Pool in South Oxhey (0208 421 0211) and for Three Rivers residents at Woodside Leisure Centre in Garston (01923 892710).
Refurbishment Details
Why?
William Penn Leisure Centre opened in 1996, when a 'dryside' extension including a sports hall, exercise studio, squash courts and fitness areas was added to a former school swimming pool originally built in the 1970s. The new centre proved to be extremely popular, with over 150,000 visits every year. However the 30 year old pool plant became increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. One pool with former school changing rooms was no longer enough to accommodate the growing demand for public swimming, schools and other lessons, aqua classes and family splash sessions. Many of the dryside areas such as the fitness areas and exercise studio were also bursting at the seams.
Three Rivers District Council therefore commissioned a feasibility study in 2004 to examine the most effective way of renewing the building and increasing its capacity. This study was then further developed by a design team of architects, surveyors and engineers from Atkins Design Solutions into a detailed design.
What?
The new William Penn Leisure Centre includes the following features:
Brand new learner pool
Fully refurbished deck level main pool (the same size as the previous pool)
All new pool changing area with increased capacity and a flexible choice of changing and showering arrangements
All new pool plant, using ultraviolet water treatment to give clearer water using much less chlorine
Accessible ground floor spectator area giving views of both pools
Combined fitness area with 36% more space for more machines, stretching area and free weights
Two new exercise studios upstairs (there was previously only one)
A new crèche and party room for children
Redesigned foyer with improved reception, cafe and security features
The whole building is now fully accessible for people with disabilities
The design features the latest energy-conservation technology, including use of solar power to heat pool water
Green Leisure
The annual energy costs of an average swimming pool have recently risen by over £20,000 per year. Three Rivers District Council has made the reduction of energy usage in all its buildings a high priority, and is also looking for opportunities to use renewable energy wherever possible.
The design for the new William Penn Leisure Centre therefore includes solar thermal panels for pre-heating pool water, as well as other energy conservation technologies
William Penn Leisure Centre is managed by Hertsmere Leisure on behalf of Three Rivers District Council. More information about activities is available at reception, by phoning 01923 771050 or at www.williampennleisure.co.uk