New Reading swimming pool finally ready to open
The pool is nearly a year behind schedule
A new 25-metre community swimming pool and teaching and diving pool is to finally open at Rivermead Leisure Centre - a year after the re-built centre officially opened.
The council say it'll be ready for its first customers on 17 June 2024.
Key features of the new Rivermead pools include:
A 25m 8-lane main pool with partially movable floor from poolside level to 1.80m deep to allow a range of activities including swimming lessons, community groups, swimming competitions, synchronised swimming, rehabilitation exercises, water aerobics, and much more.
A teaching and diving pool with 5 metre dive tower; 3 metre springboard and two 1 metre spring dives, with completely moveable floor from poolside level to 3.7m deep.
A dive tower safety gate to prevent access to the tower when the dive pool floor is raised.
A splash pad fun zone for younger children.
State of the art accessible changing facilities with accessible toilet, shower, changing table and hoist. There will also be ‘pool pods’ for both the main pool and diving pool to enable swimmers with limited mobility including wheelchair users to get in and out of the water easily and independently.
Two spectator seating areas able to seat over 250 including 7 wheelchair accessible spaces.
Rivermead
The council say the facilities at Rivermead are designed with a focus on accessibility and sustainability to benefit everyone in Reading.
The new Rivermead facilities have been developed to BREEAM Excellent standards (which is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method) and with the use of renewables where possible, as well as putting in place measures to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental efficiency. Two air source heat pumps (ASHP) at Rivermead will equate to around a 75% reduction of the carbon emission rate of the new centre’s heating system and at their peak power, Rivermead’s impressive 770 solar panels will output over 296 kW.
Excited
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, said:
"We are now just days away from delivering on our promise of more new pools Reading and I’m sure residents are as excited as I am at the thought of being able to enjoy the new and improved facilities over the summer break.
"The new Rivermead Leisure Centre represents yet another significant investment by the Council and provides swimming pools that are both modern and fully fit for the future. These two new pools are part of our commitment to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to the resources they need to lead healthy and active lives. And we haven’t forgotten the fun – the splash pad is sure to become a family favourite!"