The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled a new 50m swimming pool in Hillingdon – only the second Olympic sized pool to be built in London in nearly 50 years. It is part of a brand new £31m sports and leisure center that officially opened it doors to the public March 23.
The center has been created around the historic ‘Uxbridge Lido’, a popular outdoor pool since the 1930’s, which has now been fully restored to its full glory, giving residents the choice of outstanding indoor and outdoor swimming facilities. The new complex aims to encourage as many local people as possible to take an interest in sport and keep fit and healthy.
The Mayor has ambitious plans to get thousands more people right across the capital participating in sports up to and beyond the 2012 Games. To make it easier for Londoners with disabilities, who can sometimes struggle to use old-fashioned gym equipment, to do this he is providing £600,000 of funding through the London Development Agency to make 150 sports centers across the capital fully accessible, including the new center in Hillingdon.
The Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I’m thrilled to welcome the first Olympic sized swimming pool in London for nearly half a century. This outstanding accessible sports complex is a real boost for everyone in the area whether you’re striving to be the next Mark Spitz or just trying to shift a few pounds and get a bit healthier before the sun arrives. With such amazing facilities it’s sure to play a crucial role in the future success of the British swimming team and the fact that it’s open to everyone – young, old, abled and disabled – is something Hillingdon Council should rightly be proud of.”
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ray Puddifoot said: ” The council’s £26m investment in the complex has ensured we can provide top class facilities for people of ages and abilities. With support from the LDA, Sport England and Heritage Lottery Fund, we have taken the opportunity to develop a unique complex that gives people access to excellent, modern leisure facilities, as well as securing the long term future of one our historical assets.”
The Mayor’s Sports Commissioner, Kate Hoey said: “New, world-class facilities such as this are absolutely crucial to the 2012 community sports legacy that we are building in London. Access to swimming in London should be easy for everybody and this new pool gives people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to participate. I congratulate Hillingdon on their commitment to this project – and I also encourage other local authorities to look at this facility and think about the huge benefits that something similar could bring to their own communities.”
The Mayor’s Inclusive Fitness Initiative will help 150 gyms and leisure facilities across London become fully accessible to people with disabilities. As well as increasing access, the scheme will provide specific training to staff and help create an inclusive atmosphere in which able-bodied and disabled people feel comfortable exercising alongside one another.
Hillingdon Council invested £26m to build the complex, which includes an indoor sports center, restored 1930’s outdoor pool and athletics stadium. The council’s investment was enhanced by funding of £2.025m from the London Development Agency, £1.5m of National Lottery funding from Sport England and £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Source: London.gov
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