WINCHESTER’S new sport and leisure park has reached another significant milestone as the final touches of the construction of its two pools are now underway.

The state-of-the-art leisure centre is on course to open in the spring, and now contractor Willmott Dixon is close to finishing the 50-metre competition pool and 20-metre teaching pool.

The 50m competition pool will feature eight lanes and has been designed to cater for regional swimming events, lane swimming, lessons and varying training levels.

It boasts cutting-edge features such as a submersible boom to divide the pool with a moveable floor across one half.

The building also has enhanced acoustic treatment to enable coaching and easy communication with reduced background noise.

Meanwhile, the 20m teaching pool will be a ‘warm up and cool down pool’ suited for learners and leisure swimmers and is equipped with a fully adjustable mobile floor.

The pool has been designed to meet the needs of all users, and the poolside platform lift will allow the use of fully reclined flatbed trollies and wheelchairs to accommodate paraplegic, tetraplegic and bariatric swimmers and those recovering from injury.

Along with the two pools, a family friendly fun splash pad area will give toddlers a chance to gain confidence while paddling with parental supervision. The splash pad has been designed to have little or no standing water, so there is reduced risk to small children.

A hydrotherapy pool has been funded by The Pinder Trust, which is hoped to be invaluable for patients with long term health conditions.

Members of the public will also be welcome to use this facility to relieve their own sports injuries and general relaxation.

Cllr Malcolm Prince, cabinet member for sport, leisure and communities, said: “We know that swimming is a great way to support our physical and mental health and our new sport and leisure park will provide everybody with a chance to enjoy the water. It has been a priority for the council to make the state-of-the-art facility as accessible as possible and we’ve gone above and beyond to cater for everyone, from weekend paddlers to elite level competitions, and make the facility as multi use as possible.”

Richard Poulter, managing director at Willmott Dixon added: “We are proud to achieve this significant milestone. Our site team have embedded the Government-backed Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures to enable the site to continue operating safely, supporting the local economy and supply chain partners as we progress with this great project.”