A COMMUNITY was bowled over by Bicester’s newly-refurbished sports centre as it was officially opened by paralympic athlete Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

The centre’s £4.3m makeover — which includes a new six-lane 10-pin bowling alley — was unveiled by 11-times gold medal winning athlete Dame Tanni on Saturday.

As well as the bowling alley, the centre’s refurbishment includes a fitness studio, a dedicated young people's gym, creche, new changing rooms, a sauna, spa, and steam room, a relaunched café and more car parking, Dame Tanni, 39, said: “I have had a quick tour around the facilities and they are absolutely lovely, just beautiful.

“Sports facilities make so much difference in terms of encouraging people through the door and to be active.

“It is about the little things like changing rooms — you can have the nicest pool in the world but if you have horrible changing rooms, it doesn’t encourage people to be active.

“It is those things that make a difference.”

Cherwell District Council leader Barry Wood said: “The modernisation of this centre fulfils a long promise to bring 10-pin bowling to Bicester.

“We know that we owe a lot to Bicester, and that Bicester needs to have facilities that belong to the 21st century.

“Dame Tanni is one of the most decorated athletes this country has ever had. For her to be here today is a great honour.”

Ian Davies, Cherwell’s strategic director for environment and community, said the refurbishment of the 1970s-built centre in Queens Avenue was part of a wider £26m project.

The scheme also includes a £3.6m refurbishment of sports facilities in Kidlington — including a new sports hall, changing rooms, new pool roof and more parking.

A new sports centre to replace Banbury’s Spiceball Park is also included in the project and is set to open in January.

Mr Davies said: “What we have done here recognises that Bicester has always wanted better leisure facilities. The whole centre now has a completely different feel. It is a modern leisure environment.”

Bicester resident Annette Perks, 37, said: “It is really, really nice. It has really improved. The changing rooms are beautiful now. It is just really clean.”

Dame Tanni won two gold medals in wheelchair racing at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens – her fifth and last Olympics. In total she has 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, has held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times between 1992 and 2002.

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