This in from the council, in their own words, Ed
Following a number of minor changes to the building programme at Medina Leisure Centre, the completion and handover of the new state of the art Tone Zone gym, activity studio and dry-side changing rooms at Medina Leisure Centre in Newport has been delayed by three weeks.
It will now be completed on 22 March instead of 1 March, with the new gym opening on Monday 8 April and the new studio will open on Tuesday 2 April.
Work suspended during examinations
Construction work was suspended during a period of school exams held in adjacent rooms so as not to disturb students and further additional works have also been required in fitting the steel structure that will house the gym next to the existing buildings.
John Metcalfe, Isle of Wight Council deputy director for economy and environment said; “It is disappointing that we have this delay in completing the first phase of the refurbishment but it is for the best of reasons. We programmed the works so as not to impact on key exams at Medina College and I am sure leisure users and parents would appreciate and understand these actions.
“We are also having one or two issues fitting the steel structure to the existing structure which was expected although the scale of required works could not have been anticipated. In general terms however we are pleased with the overall progress of the works and I am sure that our users new and old will greatly appreciate the new facilities when they are open.”
Three phases of development
The leisure centre is currently undergoing the first of three phases of major refurbishment as part of a multi-million pound investment by Isle of Wight Council across its leisure facilities.
This delay will have an impact on the programme of works as a whole. Phase two, which is split into two, will see new bar, cafe and toilet facilities and will be completed at the end of April and the refurbished pool, plant and wet-side changing rooms will be ready in June.
Summer completion for phase three
Phase three, which includes refurbishing the female dry-side changing rooms and setting up a new meeting and training room, will be finished in the summer.
Construction of the new car park has just commenced and, when completed at the end of April 2013, will provide an additional 100 parking spaces provided together with improved traffic circulation around the site.
