William Penn Leisure Centre unveils £500,000 fitness upgrade

NewsUpdated: 9 January 2025Leisure, parks and culture
Representatives from Everyone Active (left) and Cllrs Giles-Medhurst and Lloyd with a district officer (right) in front of red ribbon and archway

William Penn Leisure Centre in Rickmansworth has officially unveiled a £500,000 transformation of its fitness facilities.

The leisure centre, operated by Everyone Active in partnership with Three Rivers District Council, reopened just before Christmas following a refurbishment that upgraded its gym and three studios.

Local councillors and key Everyone Active colleagues attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to mark this significant milestone in the centre's transformation.

The gym space has had a complete layout redesign and now features advanced cardio and strength-training equipment from Life Fitness, a global leader in fitness kit.

New equipment includes treadmills, cross trainers, rowers, stair climbers, recumbent bikes, free weights, plate-loaded resistance machines, power racks, and a new hip thrust station.

A dedicated relaxation zone has also been introduced, complete with massage guns for post-workout recovery, ensuring members have access to holistic fitness and wellness solutions.

The space has been fully redecorated in Everyone Active’s signature bold red and black theme, complemented by modern LED lighting and rubber flooring designed for comfort and noise reduction.

Beyond the gym, the group cycling studio has been redecorated and fitted out with new Keiser bikes; while the other two group exercise studios have been revamped to enhance the overall experience.

Regular member Nadia Milligan, who attends personal training sessions and group exercise classes, praised the project:  "The gym refurb has been stupendously managed by the team. Not only were classes running during the refurbishment, which must've been a logistical nightmare, the whole refurbishment was carried out in lightning speed.

“Although it might take some time to get used to the new equipment, the new facilities are amazing and clearly have been thought through by a specialist gym contractor. We are all very fortunate to have top of the range facilities at our doorstep."

John Sewell, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said: “We are thrilled to complete this major refurbishment and believe the community will benefit greatly from the enhanced gym and studio spaces. Our aim is to create more opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to embrace a healthy, active lifestyle.”

The upgrades to the fitness facilities coincide with environmental improvements at the leisure centre. Earlier this year, Three Rivers District Council secured £152,800 from the government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, which facilitated the installation of 500 solar panels on the centre’s roof.

The council is also in the process of installing electric vehicle chargers in the leisure centre’s car park, providing a convenient option for EV drivers while supporting greener, low-emission travel.

Cllr Chris Lloyd, Three Rivers District Council’s Lead Member for Leisure, said: “The significant investment William Penn Leisure Centre has seen shows our commitment to decarbonising our buildings while also improving our already first-class leisure offer.

“These upgrades will make the leisure centre even better for everyone – including the planet! We cannot wait for everyone to experience the new and improved facilities. If you have not been to William Penn this year, I would encourage you to come down”.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Representatives from Everyone Active (left) with Three Rivers District Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Cllr Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure and a district officer (right) reopening the William Penn Leisure Centre following a £500,000 refurb.

CAPTION 2: Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst shaking hands with Billy Johnston, General Manager of William Penn Leisure Centre, with scissors ready to cut the red ribbon to mark the grand re-opening.