Hammersmith Fitness Centre re-opened

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£1m refurbishment includes new equipment, changing rooms and squash facilities

Hammersmith Fitness & Squash Centre has been re-opened after a £1million transformation. The fitness centre now boasts state-of-the-art exercise equipment, as well as improved squash facilities and refurbished changing rooms.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is also launching, in partnership with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), the London Fitness Network. The new London Fitness Network has launched a London-wide user card, which gives customers unlimited access to more than 60 gyms, 25 full-size swimming pools and a choice of over 1500 fitness classes per week.

Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn launched the London Fitness Network on 8th March at a breakfast reception that included a fitness challenge event in Covent Garden Piazza.

The launch of this card will allow local residents the freedom and opportunity to use a variety of facilities wherever they may be and work exercise into their daily lives through the London Fitness Network.

Hammersmith & Fulham is now part of the London Fitness Network (LFN) which means that if you join one centre you get free use of over 60 council-owned centres run by charities and trusts around London – a real boon and saving for those who live in one borough and work in another. Hammersmith & Fulham Council will continue to run its Lifestyle Plus scheme for residents on low incomes, which allows members to use local leisure facilities for as little as 50p per session.

Cllr David Williams, Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Deputy for Education, said: “The council, working in partnership with GLL, is continually striving to improve the range of high standard, value-for-money sports and fitness activities and programmes. The redevelopment of the Hammersmith Fitness & Squash Centre is a fine example of this commitment to leisure in the borough. We have an excellent partner in GLL – they are very experienced and totally committed to health improvement and providing the best facilities for local people.”

Andy Bindon, HR Director at GLL said: “The refurbishment work at the Hammersmith Fitness & Squash Centre is very impressive and will be an enormous asset to the whole community. We hope as many residents as possible will take advantage of the centre’s state-of-the-art fitness and squash facilities.”

The Hammersmith Fitness & Squash Centre, in Chalk Hill Road (two minutes walk from Hammersmith Broadway tube station), recently reopened. The centre boasts state-of-the-art exercise equipment, as well as improved squash facilities and refurbished changing rooms.

It has been revamped by not-for-profit social enterprise, GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), which is now managing the centre for the council. The council chose GLL, London’s leading leisure centre operator, to manage the centre as well as Lillie Road Fitness Centre, in Fulham. Both remain in council ownership. Facilities and services at the revamped centre include:
· Extended 80 stations fitness centre
· Fully sprung and air conditioned dance and group exercise studio
· High quality changing rooms with sauna facilities
· Refurbished squash courts, with plans for an improved club night, coaching and squash leagues run by professional coaches
· Women-only fitness sessions available
· Accessibility for disabled people and activities for young people
· New crèche
· Meeting & training rooms
· A range of affordable memberships including annual and monthly pre-paid, with Lifestyle Plus concessions and pay and play options also available.

Fulham resident and Lifestyle Plus member Samira Attar, 54, said: “The facilities are very good. Definitely better than they were.”

March 20, 2005