In 2008, Dorset District Council agreed to release the balance of £4m to the Three Rivers Partnership, which was set aside to complete the first phase of the refurbishment and remodelling programme at the Rivermeet Leisure Centre, which is due to open in September 2010.

The project is being managed by Hammonds, a local building contractor, although the driving force behind the project is Three Rivers Partnership trustee John Havill and his team of volunteers.

The new centre will have a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a fitness suite, much improved changing facilities and an enlarged Taraflex® four-court sports hall.

Darren Wood, Gerflor sport manager GB, said: "When we inspected the site, the original sports hall floor had been partly removed and the remaining floor was an old hard composite wood block. We repaired the existing floor and made the removed parts level with the existing wooden tile. The next job was to prepare the surface and adhere the new Dry-Tex system directly to the old floor, which should hopefully save time, money and environmental impact through no need to landfill."