East Lindsey District Council's (ELDC) new £12m Meridian Leisure Centre in Wood Lane, Louth, Lincs., is to open on 6 February.

The existing Louth Swimming Pool and Fitness Suite on the town's Riverhead closed on 8 January to allow the staff to be trained ahead of the move to the new centre. Facilities include a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool with moveable floor; a fitness suite with sauna and steam room; a child care area with both indoor and outdoor play areas; a cafe; a leisure pool with flume; a sports hall and multi-purpose room; dance studios; an IT suite and exhibition space; and outdoor changing rooms.

The council had been due to take ownership of the centre in December 2009, but this was postponed after construction company UCS Civils entered administration. Lincoln-based Gelders Group was subsequently appointed by ELDC to complete the final stages of the project. ELDC portfolio holder for leisure, councillor Adam Grist said: "This new leisure centre will provide people living in East Lindsey today, and in the future, with excellent opportunities to lead healthy and active lives."

The Community Leisure Project, of which the Meridian Leisure Centre is one element, has also seen the construction of a new £2m sports pavilion plus ground improvements on London Road in Louth, a new sports pavilion on the Wainfleet Road playing fields in Skegness, the refurbishment of fitness suites in Skegness and Horncastle and the provision of an outdoor skatepark in Mablethorpe.