South Norwood Leisure Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Norwood Leisure Centre |
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| Address | 164 Portland Road, South Norwood, Croydon, London |
| Postcode | SE25 4PT |
| Operated by | Better (GLL) |
| Owned by | Croydon Council |
The South Norwood Leisure Centre is a popular spot on Portland Road in South Norwood, London. It's a great place to get active! The centre has a big 25-meter swimming pool and a smaller teaching pool for learning. There's also a gym with 32 different exercise machines and two studios for various classes. A company called Better (GLL) takes care of running the centre.
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What Can You Do There?
The leisure centre offers many cool things to do. You can enjoy the swimming pool, a room for different activities, and a car park. There's also a gym to work out, a crèche for younger kids, and a special learning pool. Plus, they have a studio for group exercise classes. The centre also provides helpful services for visitors with disabilities. Kids aged 16 and under can even swim for free during certain hours!
Fun Activities to Try
There are lots of activities available at the centre. You can join SwimFit groups or enjoy open swimming sessions. There are also special lanes for serious swimmers and sessions just for one gender. You can find "primetime" activities and classes held in the pool. If you want to learn to swim, they have a swim school. For those interested in fitness, there's personal training, gym inductions, and help with workout plans. During school holidays, they often have extra activities too!
A Look at the Centre's History
The South Norwood Leisure Centre has been around for a while. It got a big makeover between 2006 and 2008. This refurbishment took more than a year and a half to complete.
A Big Decision for the Centre
Back in 2005, the local government, called Croydon Council, had a big discussion about the centre. At that time, the Labour Party was in charge of the council. They announced plans to knock down the old centre and build a brand new, modern one.
Before this, in 2003, the Mayor of London had even approved a plan for a new £10 million sports centre nearby. However, this idea was later changed. The council decided to focus on rebuilding the existing site instead. In early 2006, they said the new centre would take about 18 months to build and be ready by late 2007.
This exciting new facility will include a main pool, teaching pool, gym and sports hall which will bring great new leisure opportunities to Croydon.
But then, something changed. In the 2006 local elections, a different political group, the Conservative Party, took control of the council. They decided to change the plan. To save money, they chose to refurbish (update) the existing building instead of rebuilding it completely. This refurbishment would cost £4 million, which was much less than building a new one.
Croydon Council explained that updating the pool would make it last for another 30 years. They said the £6 million saved could be used to improve other facilities in the area. However, many local people were not happy with this decision.
On July 25, 2006, the council officially decided to go ahead with the refurbishment plan. Many protesters came to the town hall meeting. They handed in a petition with 3,000 signatures, showing how many people wanted a new centre. Despite the protests, the council stuck to its decision.
At the meeting, one council member, Cllr Hollands, said, "I understand the disappointment but Croydon can't afford to build a new leisure centre." Another council member, Cllr Sue Bennett, agreed, saying, "To say it was a difficult decision is undoubted and to say it was the right decision is under much debate. However the council can't afford it."
How to Get There
It's easy to reach the South Norwood Leisure Centre! There's a bus stop right outside. You can catch the 130, 197, and 312 buses. These buses can take you to places like Peckham, Croydon, and New Addington.
The closest train station is Norwood Junction railway station. If you prefer the tram, the nearest Tramlink stop is Arena. From there, you can travel to Beckenham, Wimbledon, and Elmers End.
