Construction of a £38million regional sports facility in Basildon, Essex has started, a new facility that leisure operators SLM will manage once completed.
The Basildon Sporting Village will provide the only 50-metre swimming pool in Essex, and only the second in the East of England, and will open in April 2011. The facility that will also include a regional gymnastics centre and athletics facilities has already been named in LOCOG’s official Pre Games Training camp guide for London 2012.
Cllr Stephen Horgan, Deputy Leader of the council, says:
“This is a transformational project for sport, healthy living and the promotion of active lifestyles in the Basildon District and across the region. We can be proud that we will be creating a facility that will include the only 50-metre pool in Essex and a regional gymnastics centre for gymnasts from novice to Olympian standard. The most important point though is that the Sporting Village is for everybody from residents that want to lead an active life to competition athletes through to the Champions of the future.The people of Basildon District deserve the best.”
The Sporting Village will provide facilities for a wide range of sports, including athletics, swimming, diving, gymnastics, trampoline, badminton, netball, basketball, and 5 a side football. There will be a 50 metre competition size swimming pool with seating for 450 spectators. It will also boast a large sports hall, a regional gymnastics centre, fitness centre, multi purpose studio and climbing wall.