OKEHAMPTON?S multi-million pound Parklands Leisure Centre has attracted more than 20,000 visits since it opened just over eight weeks ago. And membership at the £4.2-million Simmons Park complex now totals more than 3,000 people. West Devon Borough Council, which runs the centre, says its success is exceeding ?wildest dreams?. The state-of-the-art building was opened in October and during its first two days of trading, 4,000 people came through the doors. The complex, set on the edge of the picturesque Edwardian parkland setting, has a range of facilities, including a four-lane, 25-metre swimming pool with a movable floor, a four-court sports hall, 35-station fitness suite, aerobics studio, crèche and a function room. Fitness classes and the gym are proving to be particularly popular with local people, says the borough council. Cllr Nick Morgan, chairman of the council?s economic, leisure and community development committee, said: ?The success of the centre is exceeding our wildest dreams. ?We are really pleased, both with the number of people who are coming through the doors and particularly with the number of people signing up to be members. ?We feel that the centre is in a superb location and provides the very best facilities for people interested in improving their health or just using the facilities to enjoy themselves.? Young swimmers from Okehampton Otters Swimming Club were the first into the new pool at its official opening in October and club chairman Kevin Jones said the youngsters were enjoying using the new facility. ?It has worked really well, now we have got the facilities to host galas and local events,? he said. Mr Jones said the excellent facilities meant Parklands had been chosen to play host to teacher training and swimming coaches courses next year in conjunction with the club and using their swimmers. The pool operates under a mixed programme throughout the week, allocating set times for schools, the over-50s and the disabled as well as general swim periods. Outstanding work on four all-weather tennis courts at the centre is due to be completed next year. Parklands is the largest project ever undertaken by the council and was partially financed by a £3.2-million grant from the Sports Lottery. The grant is the second largest ever awarded to the region. The council paid £480,000 towards the new centre and other financial contributions were received from Okehampton Town Council, Devon County Council, Okehampton College, Mid Devon Primary Care Trust, OCRA and the local tennis and swimming clubs. The centre is managed on the council?s behalf by Leisure Connection, a leading operator of local authority leisure facilities, and has created eight new jobs.
