New £22m Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre in Bishop’s Stortford officially opens on Saturday October 23

Colin Jackson – the BBC TV athletics commentator and former Olympic silver medallist, world, European and Commonwealth champion and world record holder at 110m hurdles will officially open the centre doors to the public on Saturday. The new centre features a vast range of indoor and outdoor facilities to suit everybody, giving the people of Bishops Stortford even more options when it comes to enjoying an active lifestyle.

Managed by Everyone Active, the facility has undergone a £22m redevelopment by East Herts Council to replace the 1970s-built original centre, which was demolished to accommodate new football pitches. At the new centre, users will be able to enjoy a 25m eight-lane competition main pool, teaching pool and ‘water confidence zone’, high-tech fitness suite, two exercise studios, self-contained football changing facilities and a café and seating area.

Max Associates worked with the Council to deliver a facility options appraisal and business case for five leisure facilities including Grange Paddocks and then supported the Council through a leisure management operator procurement process, which resulted in a successful appointment of Everyone Active.

Lisa Forsyth, Director, said: “Max Associates is delighted that the new Grange Paddocks leisure centre has successfully opened, this is brilliant news for Bishop Stortford residents.  The state-of-the-art wet and dry side facilities will help increase participation in physical activity for all and contribute to meeting the Council’s health and wellbeing objectives. We are pleased to have supported the Council from the beginning of the process to now seeing Grange Paddocks open its doors to be benefited and enjoyed.”

Cllr Eric Buckmaster, executive member for wellbeing at East Herts Council, said: “This project has been a positive investment for East Herts Council and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the project team, council officers and contractors that have helped bring the project to life.

“Construction work began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opening of the new leisure centre shows how hard everyone has worked to make this happen. I look forward to seeing everyone there and witnessing the start of the journey to a healthier lifestyle for many residents and other visitors to the new Grange Paddocks.”

https://www.everyoneactive.com/news/grange-paddocks-development-plans/.