Central Bedfordshire Council news and press releases

Dunstable Centre pools open

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

We'll be opening the swimming pools at the £20 million Dunstable Centre on Monday 23 December 2019, with SLL, our leisure management operator.

To celebrate the opening of the pools, from Monday (23 December) until the end of the year, everyone, members and non-members alike, will be able to enjoy free sessions to thank the public for their patience during the ongoing work to the pools.

The centre boasts a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool which will provide a range of aqua classes, along with public swimming sessions and timetabled activities. There’s also a 12.5-metre learning pool where AquaEd, SLL’s learn-to-swim programme, will be held.

Our Assistant Director Leisure, Libraries and Countryside, Jill Dickinson, said:

We have been delighted by the reaction to the new library and leisure facilities including our refurbished sports hall and squash courts, our new 100-station gym and group exercise studios complete with creche, café, spaces to hire and offices for Citizen’s Advice since they opened in June. And we are very pleased that the pools will soon be open too.

The new library is a large, bright and airy open-plan space. The space flows seamlessly from the main foyer and is zoned for different activities including space to relax, read or study, a children’s zone and new facilities for teenagers. The library also offers access to computers and iPads, with free Wi-Fi.

Ian Morton, Managing Director for SLL, said:

We’re excited for the highly anticipated opening of the state-of-the-art swimming and learner pools at The Dunstable Centre which will provide an excellent facility for the local community.

Find out when the free swimming sessions are available. Before the free swims begin, SLL will invite selected clubs and groups to use the pool to gain feedback and train staff. SLL is also now taking bookings for the AquaEd swim school programme starting in January 2020.

The old leisure centre and library in Dunstable were no longer fit for purpose or cost effective to run. By bringing services together under one roof, the new building will reduce running costs, while providing more flexible services and longer opening hours. The project was made possible by working in partnership with Sport England who contributed £1 million of National Lottery Strategic Facilities Grant funding to the project.

Visit sll.co.uk/dunstable for opening times and information on the leisure facilities including swimming, gym, classes, membership prices, and opening times.

Find out when the library is open.

View Citizen’s Advice, opening hours and service information.