Sports Minister opens new pool in White City

---

 

Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, officially opened the new Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke wimming Pool, in White City.

The brand new £4 million swimming pool, which has proved a big success since it opened to the public a month ago, replaces the facilities of the old Janet Adegoke Centre and has a common entrance with the Phoenix Fitness Centre, in Bloemfontein Road.

Headteachers, swimming club members, community groups and residents were invited to yesterday's official opening to see the top quality facilities for themselves.

Also among the guests were members of Janet Adegoke's family, including her daughter Jumoke and two sons Rotimi and Kunle. The old leisure centre was named as a tribute to Janet, a former Hammersmith & Fulham mayor and the first black woman in London to be made a mayor. The new swimming pool retains her name - a move which has delighted the family, who want Janet's legacy of helping the community to be remembered. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in Janet's honour, as well as a plaque to mark the opening of the new leisure centre, by Richard Caborn during today's opening ceremony.

Jumoke Adegoke said the family were "over the moon" when they heard the new pool had been named after Janet, who lived in Emlyn Gardens, Shepherds Bush. "She was loved by the community because she helped everyone out," said Jumoke. "It is fantastic that she is being remembered in this way. She would have liked the fact that using the pool is affordable to the local community."

Rotimi Adegoke agreed and said: "It's a superb pool and the sort she would have been delighted to use herself."

Mr Caborn, who was also attending a west London conference in support of London's plans for the 2012 Olympic Games today, said: "High quality community sports facilities are vital for the health and fitness of our nation and to encourage young people to take part in sports. These fantastic new leisure facilities in the heart of White City are an asset to the whole community and, together with the newly-refurbished Linford Christie Outdoor Sports Centre, represent an impressive commitment by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to the well-being of local people and the development of sporting talent for the 2012 Olympic Games and beyond."

Cllr Stephen Burke, leader of the council, said: "The new Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool means residents and schools in the north of the borough now have new state-of-the-art swimming and fitness facilities on their doorstep. The new pool has been an instant hit with residents, community groups and locals schools, with the recent half-term week proving particularly popular. I hope anyone who hasn't tried out the new pool will take advantage of our Easter kids swim free sessions or two for one swim offers."

Phoenix High School headteacher, William Atkinson, said: "The new pool is a first-class facility and a real asset to the whole community. It has been built as part of the successful partnership between the school and the council which led to the Phoenix Fitness Centre being set up."

The new leisure complex means residents can swim, work-out and relax in
the same centre, which is managed for the council by not-for-profit group Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). During the Easter holiday children will be able to swim free at the new pool and there are two for one swim offers running from 25 March to 9 April (see notes below).

Mark Sesnan, managing director for GLL, said: "The partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and GLL brings local services and social enterprise together to deliver inclusive, relevant and high quality leisure facilities for the borough, which rival those of privately-run fitness centres. We are working with the council to promote the health and well-being of everyone in Hammersmith & Fulham."

 

March 6, 2006