Carnival Hub Update
Work on Wokingham Borough Council’s flagship new leisure centre, library and cultural space continues apace with the Carnival Hub beginning to take shape ready to open in summer 2022.
Once open it will offer a range of great facilities including swimming pools and a splash pad, spa area, a larger fitness suite, studio spaces, a four-court sports hall, cafe and a large library space.
Photo credit Stewart Turkington https://www.stphotos.co.uk/
The centre is also being fitted out with a range of specialist equipment such as tiered bleacher seating, lighting, and sound in the main hall to make it the ideal venue to hold cultural events.
Since the topping out ceremony was held in October work has nearly been completed on external cladding and the focus has moved to the inside of the hub.
Changing areas are being fitted out, stud walls are going up and underfloor heating is being installed in key areas such as the new library space. Both pools have now been tiled and a lift installed to make the main pool accessible for those with disabilities.
The teaching pool has also been fitted with a moveable floor allowing the pool depth to be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of classes and activities.
Work to make this one of the most energy-efficient leisure centres in the country continues including the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps on the roof.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “In recent years we’ve invested heavily in new and improved leisure facilities for our residents across the borough. We are sure the new hub will prove a real hit, like the new Bulmershe leisure centre in Woodley when we opened it in 2020. As work has moved inside you can really see the centre start to take shape and understand what a fantastic space this will be and how it will help us offer a much wider range of activities than before.”
Cllr Bill Soane, executive member for neighbourhoods and communities, said: “A lot of time has been spent on getting the designs right, including engaging with the community on both the library and cultural uses. We’ve been using this feedback to help us design and fit out the internal spaces and are confident people will love the new hub which will offer all the things people love about their local library and community buildings in a great new space.”
During the coming months work will continue to fit out the inside of the space and people will also see more happening outside, as the new residential block starts to take shape and hard landscaping starts to go in around the Carnival Hub.
