FORMER Lord Mayor Jim Campbell is looking forward to using new equipment at a revamped sports centre in North Oxford – after learning to ride a bike again.

Mr Campbell, 70, is recovering from a hip replacement operation in November.

For the past four years he has had to ride a bike with only one pedal, but now, following his operation, he is looking forward to using two pedals again.

Mr Campbell tested one of the exercise bikes at the Ferry Sports Centre in Ferry Pool Road, North Oxford, which is about to undergo a £646,000 facelift to double the number of fitness stations.

Mr Campbell, a North Oxford city councillor, said: “Fitness stations are what people want these days and there simply aren’t enough of them at Ferry Sports Centre.

“Following my operation, I have just graduated to riding a bike with two feet again and an exercise bike could help me enormously.

“For the last few years I have had to put my left foot on a platform and just pedal with my right, but now Warlands in Botley Road have adapted my bike and reinstated my left pedal.

“A lot of people in North Oxford will welcome the improvement to these facilities, which also include a 25m pool and squash courts.”

As well as the single-storey gym extension, plans are afoot to redesign the leisure centre’s parking and introduce new covered cycle parking spaces. The revamp is being planned because the sports centre is the busiest in the city.

Council leaders said customers sometimes had to be turned away.

Bob Timbs, the city council’s executive member for leisure, said: “Not everyone can afford to pay the fees at a private gym so the council has to ensure that it can offer people in the city a cheaper alternative.

“Fitness stations are all the rage these days and customers have been turning up and finding all the machines are already taken.

“Once planning permission has been approved, building work will start in July and be completed by October.

“As part of the new facilities, there will be 100 new fitness stations instead of 50, and there will be a new warm-up area, better changing facilities and a new reception hall.

“This is part of a £2.2m investment in leisure facilities by the council, which includes a new £630,000 gym at Barton Pool off Bayswater Road, and a £363,000 upgrade of Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road.

“We are hoping to complete the work at Blackbird Leys, start the other two projects in July and finish them in October.”

He said none of the investment would have been possible but for the deal struck with not-for-profit organisation Fusion, which now runs the council’s leisure centres.

Councillors are due to decide whether to give the Ferry project planning permission today.

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