The brand new £7.5m Tewkesbury Leisure Centre has opened to the public, with Places for People Leisure operating the site on a 10-year contract.

Funded by Tewkesbury Borough Council, the centre has been designed by Pozzoni Architects and offers a raft of physical activity services for the local community. The new site replaces the old Cascades leisure centre, which is due to be demolished this summer.

The centre’s new 60-station fitness suite features a range of CV, strength and functional training equipment, supplied by Matrix Fitness, Precor, Escape, Gymkit UK, Physique Sports, Octane and Pulse Fitness. The two fitness studios play host to a wide range of group exercise classes from the likes of Les Mills, with sessions designed to suit all ages.

Elsewhere, the centre boasts a 25m (82ft) five-lane main pool, a 20m (66ft) teaching pool, a children's splash area, plus a sauna and steamroom. An enhanced Amateur Swimming Association teaching programme is also on offer, in addition to aquatic classes.

“It’s fantastic to see the local community using and enjoying the wonderful new facilities that the centre has to offer,” said Matt Cotton, general manager at Tewkesbury Leisure Centre.

“The feedback from customers has been great and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people in over the summer.”