Swindon Link Centre partially reopens after flooding

The leisure centre closed on 18 September after it was damaged by flooding

A leisure centre which sustained "significant damage" from floods has partially reopened.

The gym and fitness studios at the Link Centre in Swindon are open again.

Operator GLL was forced to close the centre on 18 September following flash flooding in parts of Wiltshire.

A spokesperson for GLL said: "While this is a modest step towards a full reopening, it demonstrates our commitment to the Link Centre and the hard work our staff have put in."

Specialist contractors and loss adjustors were brought in to assess the damage to the leisure centre, which a spokesperson said was "significantly worse than originally anticipated".

Many key operational areas sustained damage from the flood water, including electricity supplies, pumps, heating, ventilation and draining systems, but staff and contractors' "concerted effort" have allowed for the first phase of reopening.

There is still no mains power to the building, so 100v battery-powered lighting has been installed temporarily.

Electricity was switched off whilst water was pumped out of the building

A spokesperson for operator GLL added: "We will be running 26 fitness classes per week and self-powered gym equipment such as exercise bikes, rowing machines skillmill treadmills and ski ergs will be available.  

"We're asking customers to arrive 'gym ready' because the changing rooms and showers won't yet be operational.

"We hope to have generators on site within a couple of weeks, which will then enable us to operate the full range of gym equipment.

"Members will continue to be able to use other leisure facilities in Swindon, Oxfordshire, Bath and North East Somerset."

The centre has announced temporary opening hours, from 07:00 to 20:00 BST on weekdays and 07:00 to 18:00 on weekends.

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