The long awaited £10m community facility in Penicuik officially has officially opened its doors.

The new Penicuik Centre features a competition standard swimming pool with movable floor, new larger library with expanded IT area, dance studio, leisure centre with sixty fitness station ToneZone suite and community facilities including meeting rooms and a creche.

Cabinet member for leisure, recreation and sport Councillor Bob Jenkins welcomed guests to the opening, and said: "I am delighted this wonderful centre is now open for the public to use. In the three years that I have held this cabinet post, the Council has invested a lot of money in sports, leisure and library facilities across the county. This investment will have a major impact on sport, culture, physical activity and health in Midlothian - and this is something we are very proud of."

Council Leader Adam Montgomery said: "I have been looking forward to this opening for a long time, and am thrilled to bits and proud of the new Penicuik Centre. To bring leisure, library and community facilities together creates a real hub. It would not have been possible for such an ambitious project five years ago, and changes to government funding in the last three years made The Penicuik Centre a deliverable project. Ladywood and Queensway Leisure Centres will also continue to operate, and so the community will be proud of the facilities they have today.


"Additional investment in Penicuik includes an upgraded Penicuik Town Hall for community use, new outdoor facilities to provide a multi-sports court, a skate park and a full size synthetic football pitch, extension of community facilities within Penicuik High School and adapting the John Chant Centre for use by local groups."

Sportscotland contributed £700,000 through the Sports Lottery Fund towards the new pool at The Penicuik Centre. Chair Julia Bracewell OBE said: "sportscotland recognises that quality, accessible facilities are vital if sport is to thrive in Scotland. We are delighted to have supported the creation of the new pool at The Penicuik Centre with an award of £700,000 from the sportscotland Lottery fund. The new pool will increase the sporting opportunities available to the local schools and the people of Penicuik, encouraging them to participate, develop and excel in sport."

Leisure facilities on offer at The Penicuik Centre include:

• a 25 metre competition standard swimming pool with movable floor, and a weekly activity programme;
• the ToneZone suite with sixty fitness stations;
• an activity studio hosting a weekly programme of classes;
• a refurbished six-court sports hall;
• the health suite with sauna, spa and steam room.

The Library at The Penicuik Centre offers:

• a broad range of material including books, CDs and DVDs, talking books and on-line access to reference sources;
• self issue, return and renewal facilities;
• option to listen to music and view DVDs using in-house equipment, and plasma TVs that show the news and library-related programmes;
• free broadband internet access in the Live IT area and wi fi for those using their own laptop;
• a quiet study room which houses a local history collection;
• a community room for readings, meetings and film screenings;
• an "Eye-Pod" area for young people including games console and graphic novels.

Other facilities include comfortable meeting and community rooms and a crèche.

(CD)