EXCITED children and dedicated swimmers plunged into the Leys Pool for the first time yesterday.

After 18 months of construction, the £9.2m Oxford City Council pool, attached to the Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road, is complete.

Swimmers can enjoy the new facilities on a reduced timetable until Monday, when the full schedule of lessons and classes begins.

General manager David Hunt said: “We wanted to get people in here as soon as it was ready, rather than keeping people out.

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“I’m immensely proud, these are the best facilities in Oxford. I’ve been working here since construction started so it’s great to see it come to the end.

“This pool will last for the next 50 years at least.”

One of the first families into the warm water of the learner pool was James and Lauraine Dineen with their boys Harry, four, and three-year-old George.

Mrs Dineen said: “I was so excited for the boys this morning I couldn’t sleep. We’ve walked past the site every day throughout the build and the boys have been asking to go for ages.”

The Evenlode Tower resident added: “It’s brilliant here.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Lauraine and James Dineen relax with sons Harry and George

Chris Madden, from Rose Hill, took his sons Lincoln, six, and four-year-old Nelson to enjoy the fun pool, which has several fountains.

Mr Madden, 49, said: “These are fantastic facilities, we’re very lucky here.”

Lincoln approved of the new pool, but said: “I like the little pools better because the water’s warm here.”

Swimming up and down the 25m pool was fitness fanatic Paul Brackett, 55, who lives on the estate. He said: “It’s lovely swimming here, it’s brilliant.

“I hope the next generation in Blackbird Leys make use of it properly and get down here.”

The official opening will be on Saturday, January 24, when the adjacent leisure centre’s new reception area and downstairs exercise studio are completed.

Oxford Mail:

  • General manager David Hunt and marketing executive Steve Lee

While the pool is owned by the council it is run by Fusion, which also owns the leisure centre.

Building work on the site was delayed by a year due to legal challenges, including two judicial reviews.

It replaces Temple Cowley Pools and Blackbird Leys Pool, which have now closed, despite opposition from communities and the Save Temple Cowley Pools group.

Fusion’s marketing executive Steve Lee said: “It’s great to see the new pool open, especially with all of the delays and controversy over Temple Cowley Pools.

Oxford Mail:

  • More serious swimmers do lengths

“Once people come in here I think they’ll change their point of view, because it’s absolutely fantastic.”

As well as the pool, Fusion’s leisure centre has had its first complete refurbishment since it was built in 1985.

The sports hall and gym have been fitted with new equipment and expanded, while two new exercise studios will hold fitness classes.

In total the project has cost Fusion and the council more than £11m.

 

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