City fitness centre gets in shape for 21st century

A VICTORIAN swimming centre has been brought into the 21st century with a £1.5 million extension.

The new fitness studio, gymnasium and changing rooms at Leith Victoria Swim Centre have been built on stilts over the existing car park to save space.

Hundreds of people enjoyed free swimming and exercise classes to celebrate its opening yesterday. It is the first time one of Edinburgh's five Victorian swimming baths has had a modern extension.

Edinburgh Leisure bosses say the development was needed to keep pace with the growing popularity of the centre, which dates from 1899.

Users today can try out new activities such as "salsacise" or Hatha yoga, as well as the traditional classes.

A new mind-body studio will open on February 12. The resurfaced car park will be completed by the middle of next month.

Michael Pinkerton, a spokesman for Edinburgh Leisure, said: "The new extension contrasts nicely with the Victorian design. The last thing we wanted to do was to take away from the character of the original building."

The new gym measures 300 square metres, almost three times the size of the old one. The adjacent fitness studio measures 200 square metres, more than twice the size of the previous one. There are also extra toilet and changing facilities. The centre has extended its opening hours and will now close at 10pm during the week.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's sports leader, said: "We continue to drive towards our goal of making Edinburgh the most physically active city in Europe by 2020, and this along with other projects will play a big part in getting us there.

"Right across the city, there are now more opportunities to get active wherever you live and whatever your interests."

Work on the project began in May, following more than a year of planning. It is the first to be funded through the new "prudential" scheme, where Edinburgh Leisure will repay the whole cost to the city council over a 20-year period through its takings.

Craiglockhart Sports Centre is the next in line for a new extension. Work on the £2.4 million project is due to begin in early summer, and will be completed by spring next year.