THE leading operator of local authority leisure facilities in the UK has been awarded the contract to manage West Devon Borough Council?s new £4.2 million flagship centre, Parklands at Okehampton.
Leisure Connection will also take over the management of Meadowlands in Tavistock.
The company was selected through a competitive process to take over the operation of Meadowlands on September 1 and the new Parklands Leisure Centre when it is completed in October 2004.
Parklands, due to open towards the end of October, will replace the existing Okehampton Swimming Pool.
The borough council was successful in achieving a £3.2m lottery grant towards the building of this facility, which will significantly improve swimming provision for the local community.
Facilities at the site will comprise of a four-lane, 25m swimming pool with a movable floor, a four-court sports hall, 35-station fitness suite, aerobics studio, crèche, function room and four all-weather tennis courts.
Meadowlands Leisure Centre was opened in 1990 and also incorporates a leisure pool as well as a toddler pool, giant flume ride and a café / restaurant.
The redevelopment of these sites will provide a significant boost to the local community by improving the leisure provision and creating approximately 20 new jobs.
Cllr Nick Morgan, chairman of the borough?s economic, leisure and community development committee, said: ?We are delighted to get Leisure Connections on board. They are a firm with an excellent reputation.?
Chris Reeves, commercial director at Leisure Connection, said: ?We are proud to be partnering West Devon Borough Council on the development of this contract.
?At Leisure Connection we pride ourselves on the service and quality of facilities we deliver to local communities, and are confident that we can work with our partners and to ensure that the people of the West Devon Borough are offered a first class leisure facility.?
Leisure Connection, which currently manages 120 leisure sites across the UK, will implement a number of its hugely successful and popular brands, which include Harpers Fitness Clubs and the Aqua Action SwimSchool.