VIDEO: See inside the new multi-million pound Flitwick Leisure Centre

The three-minute video released by Central Beds Council follows two members of the public on an exclusive tour around the new lifestyles@flitwick facility, after they won a competition to join customer forum members on a once-in-a-lifetime viewing.

The winners – Liz Coulson and Helen Armitage – were the first members of the public to step foot inside the centre and they shared their first impressions on camera in an experience that will now give everyone a glimpse of what the brand new building has to offer.

The video highlights some of the new facilities available from Monday, including an eight-lane swimming with a learner pool, confidence water and spectator area; a 120-station health and fitness suite, plus a 10-metre indoor climbing wall.

From next week, visitors will also discover dance/exercise studios, a sports hall, squash courts, wet-side changing rooms with provisions for disabled visitors, a bigger café, crèche and additional changing facilities for the site’s artificial football pitch.

Prior to the exclusive tour, Liz had not set foot in a leisure centre for almost a decade, but now plans to use the gym and swimming pool to continue the achievement of losing two-and-a-half stone over the last 12 months through healthy eating.

She said: “It’s about getting people like me through the door. What was good was meeting some of the staff, and feeling that they are actually enthusiastic about this, so I think they will treat new customers that way as well.

“There are several different shower areas, because I used to be quite put off by the changing rooms in the old centre, so that’s a real plus. Someone has given it a lot of thought.”

Helen, who is already a member of Flitwick Leisure Centre, said: “I will be using the new centre to maintain good health through Pilates classes, swimming and the gym. I will also socialise over coffee in the café, as I have met many friends at the leisure centre over the years since I joined.

“I look forward to the opening on February 29. I think it’s a wonderful effort and I’m quite sure that the residents of Flitwick and all the surrounding areas will very much appreciate it.”

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “It will be tremendously exciting, after many years of work, to finally see the new Flitwick Leisure Centre open its doors to the public.

“I’m so glad that we were able to give Liz and Helen an exclusive look around the facility before anyone else and even more delighted that it met their seal of approval, because it was conceived, designed and built with customers in mind.

“One of our main priorities is improving the health and wellbeing of our residents and the new Flitwick Leisure Centre is fitted with state-of-art technology and modern facilities which will help people achieve this and meet the needs of our growing population.”

Look out for the Central Bedfordshire Council video camera, which will also be at Flitwick Leisure Centre on Monday morning to capture the moment that the doors open and hear what customers make of the new facility.

The leisure centre on Steppingley Road, which is managed on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council by Stevenage Leisure Limited, began construction in November 2014 adjacent to the current centre, which will close for the last time ever on Saturday at midday.

For information go to www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/flitwick on to enquire about the new facilities, membership, pricing and timetables call 0300 300 4575 or email [email protected].