WORK on a £4 million leisure centre redevelopment is moving on apace.

February marked the start of work at Thirsk Leisure Centre despite some challenging weather conditions and the need to follow Covid secure working.

As the leisure centre enters week 10 of development works, structural steelwork engineers have now completed the steel frame for the extensions. All part of the construction of a modern and improved leisure centre.

The redevelopment includes two extensions, these will house a new gym three times the size of the current facility which for the first time will be operational 24/7 and also include a new multi-purpose studio and a group cycling studio.

Outdated plant equipment that forced the centre’s pools to close several times over the last couple of years, will be replaced with greener, more environmentally sustainable equipment and a new roof will be put in place to address much needed repairs and condensation issues.

The gym changing rooms will be updated and increased in size and the reception and seating area will also be refurbished.

Councillor Mark Robson, Leader of Hambleton District Council visited the site on Tuesday (April 6).

He said: “The community asked for a state-of-the-art leisure centre in Thirsk and that is exactly what we are on course to deliver.

“It’s fantastic to see construction well under way and the steel frame erected. It’s going to be hugely exciting to see the leisure centre continue to take shape in the coming months. This much needed and long-awaited development project will reinvigorate the leisure centre and encourage a more active, healthy, and happy community, at a time when our health has never been more important.”

The building work which is being delivered in partnership with Alliance Leisure is currently on track for final completion in September 2021. It is necessary to close the centre and the car park for this entire period with members able to use Bedale, Northallerton and Stokesley centres during this time.