Riverside pool transformed

But still another two months before you can swim

More than four years after being put out of action by a fire elsewhere in the building, an Exeter swimming pool is set to reopen.

Along with the health suite at the Riverside Leisure centre, the pool has been given a complete refresh. Anything else would have been a disappointment after such a long time without customers.

Exeter City Council, which took back the management of the Riverside from an outsourced fitness centre provider last year, says its been "completely transformed."

It's till going to be another two months before people can stick their cozzies on and take a dip in Riverside's pool. It's not going to reopen until 24 July. It takes four weeks just to put the water in.

The council says: "The tired and dated interior swimmers may remember has been swept away and replaced with a fresh new colour scheme, modern look and new facilities throughout."

The cost of bringing Riverside back into action is around £5.6 million. The fire led to major work to correct structural weaknesses and make the building safe. It was constructed in the mid-eighties and opened as 'The Plaza' by the Princess of Wales.

Spruced up: Exeter's Riverside Centre (courtesy: Exeter City Council)

Among the update are:

• New changing areas and first floor changing rooms with new tiling, wall cladding, cubicles
• New coinless lockers which open electronically - there will be no need for coins anywhere inside the leisure centre
• New Health Suite which has been rebuilt with a steam room, sauna and spa pool
• New acoustic baffles and wall acoustic material fitted above the pool
• New flooring on the balcony and seating area has been fitted and modern spectator seating installed
• New plant serving the main and learner pools, alongside other mechanical and electrical engineering work, to improve the future operation of the facility

Many of the new facilities are the same as the same as those planned for St Sidwell’s Point, which is due to open later this year.

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for leisure and physical activity, said: “We’ve had a long wait but I am so pleased that the pool and health suite are finally set to reopen. The transformation is striking – this is now a fresh, bright and modern facility which will serve the residents of this city for decades to come.”