A PREVIOUSLY run-down leisure centre in Wiltshire has reopened to the public after receiving a major makeover.

Before May 2024, locals had turned away from the smashed and broken facilities at a Lime Kiln Leisure Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett, with many choosing to swim elsewhere.

“Unfortunately it has been run down for years,” said Bassett local Liz Mckellar in January.

“I used to love swimming there regularly, but I stopped using that pool nearly 15 years ago because of the conditions."

But several months on, the leisure centre has been given a new lease of life.

A six-week refurbishment programme that began in May 2024 has seen the centre gain new flooring, family and disabled cubicles, lockers and baby changing units, as well as new air conditioning, storage cubicles and redecoration in several rooms.

The smashed-up lockers at Lime Kiln Leisure Centre are no moreThe smashed-up lockers at Lime Kiln Leisure Centre are no more (Image: Wiltshire Council)

As of Monday, July 29, the new changing rooms have now reopened for public use, and staff at Lime Kiln can't wait to welcome the community back in.

To encourage Bassett locals to give the new facilities a go, the leisure centre is offering a two-week offer on Swim Zone memberships, saving regular swimmers £25.

“We are pleased to be re-opening the refurbished and refreshed changing rooms at Lime Kiln, and we think that the improvements we’ve made there and throughout the building will have a really positive impact on the customer experience," said Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Leisure.

“We are investing significantly in our facilities across the county to try and motivate people to keep physically, socially and mentally active and increase their activities.

Lime Kiln Leisure Centre is offering a limited deal on swim membership to encourage locals to try out the new facilitiesLime Kiln Leisure Centre is offering a limited deal on swim membership to encourage locals to try out the new facilities (Image: Wiltshire Council)

“We thank the customers for their patience and flexibility whilst the work took place, coming to the centre swim-ready and sticking with us. We hope that they agree that the new changing rooms are a much nicer environment.”

Lime Kiln Leisure Centre now joins the growing list of Wiltshire Council-run leisure centres that have received a refurbishment this year.

Improvement projects are also being undertaken at Olympiad Leisure Centre, Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, Devizes Leisure Centre, Marlborough Leisure Centre and Warminster Sports Centre.

Progress is also being made on developing a new leisure centre for Trowbridge.