Councillor Vivien Pengelly and the group of youngsters will turn the switch that will pump 2.2 million litres of water into the dive pool to start the testing process.
During the test process, the concrete lining of the pool is filled with water to check the integrity of the concrete and make sure that it is watertight, before rendering and tiling takes place. The water will be left for some time to monitor for evaporation and absorption.
The project’s main contractor, Balfour Beatty, has already successfully completed test-filling the main swimming pool and the water that was used there will be re-used for testing the dive pool.
On completion, the Plymouth Life Centre’s swimming and diving facilities will offer a family leisure pool with flumes, ‘beach entry’ and a bubble pool. The 10-lane, 50-metre Olympic-size pool will be the only one of its kind in Devon and Cornwall and will feature moveable floors and submersible booms. The dive pool will be one of the top four in the country and there will also be a dry-side training facility for divers.
Councillor Pengelly said: “The Plymouth Life Centre will provide some of the best leisure facilities of their kind in the South West and will be one of the country’s leading centres for aquatic excellence. The progress remains on target and it’s great to see it taking shape. I’m excited to think that we’re getting ever closer to completion and as work progresses, it’s becoming clear that it will provide first-class sporting facilities for the people of Plymouth and beyond.”
Tracy Spragg, deputy head teacher at Montpelier Primary School in Beacon Park, Plymouth added: “The children are delighted to have been invited to participate in this stage of the new Plymouth Life Centre. We use Central Park pool on a regular basis and really look forward to the future when these wonderful new facilities will be available.”
The concrete spectator seating units next to the main pool and dive pool have now been installed and the roofing work over the leisure and main swimming pools has begun. The concrete dive tower has now been completed and the last diving board at 10 metres has been cast.
Due to be completed this autumn, the Plymouth Life Centre will provide facilities for a wide range of sports including gymnastics, swimming, netball, table tennis, badminton and basketball. It will also boast a large sports hall, fitness centre, multi-purpose studio and climbing wall.
The £46.5 million project sees the city’s single biggest investment in leisure facilities and its flexible use will bring huge benefits for the local economy and further strengthen inward investment for the city.
More information can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/lifecentre.
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