Launceston Community Leisure Centre, based in Coronation Park, offers a range of facilities to help you get fit, have fun and stay active, with a 25m swimming pool, learner pool, gym, sports hall and fitness classes.
The facility’s future looked bleak at the end of 2022 with the announcement that it was to close on January 23rd and the dismayed local community rallied behind Andrea Robert’s petition to save the centre. Its rescue, led by Michael Davey, followed.
Michael is well known for his local businesses which includes Trethorne, but perhaps less known is his family connection to philanthropist Charles Henry Gillbard (1858–1945). It was Charles who gifted the land for Coronation Park to the people of Launceston in 1936, including the provision of the original outdoor swimming pool, pavilion and tennis courts. It seemed fitting, with part of that legacy at risk, that Michael should step in to help.
Local businesses, Launceston Town Council and individual volunteers worked incredibly hard following the closure with repairs, cleaning and decorating. In less than a month the centre was successfully reopened. The number of users has been growing steadily and the centre is bustling again.
Nearly 600 people have joined on a paid monthly membership to date, whilst others take advantage of the PAYG options. There are currently 275 children enrolled in the weekly Swim School lessons. Swimming lessons for schools have resumed and intensive lessons are available during school holidays.
With a fully equipped gym, spin room, and sports hall, there are a wide variety of classes, helping to support the fitness, social and mental wellbeing of the community. It is the home of Launceston Swimming Club and a venue for Ronin Krav Maga martial arts, Supreme Dance & Cheer Academy, NHS Pulmonary Rehabilitation clinics and the Time2Move holiday clubs.
There is still a very long way to go to secure the centre’s future as a charitable company, including securing funding to repair the building and upgrade the facilities. Step by step, with the continued support of the local community, progress is being made.
Find out more at www.launcestonleisure.co.uk, call 01566 779557, or pop in!