£20m Dunstable community and leisure hub opens its doors

A £20m leisure hub, designed to bring a number of services under one roof, has opened in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

Owned by Central Bedfordshire Council, the centre houses a health and fitness club with a 100-station gym, multi-purpose fitness studios, two squash courts and a large sports hall. The club will have a focus on inclusive group exercise, offering 67 fitness classes a week.

Other facilities at the hub include a 25m swimming pool, a library, crèche, café and flexible community space for public and community services – such as such as the Citizens Advice and adult day care.

According to councillor Ian Dalgarno, executive member for community services at Central Bedfordshire Council, the new facility will reduce running costs by bringing services together under one roof, while providing more flexible services – including improved opening hours for public services.

“At a time when public services across the country are being squeezed, we have invested over £20million in this amazing new Centre, to give our residents in Dunstable state-of-the-art facilities," he added.

The hub's leisure services will be operated by leisure trust SLL under its Lifestyles brand.

SLL now operates 22 leisure and cultural facilities on behalf of local authorities in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Rutland.