Truro Leisure Centre’s new gym wins nearly 40 members in four days

Gym-goers in Truro have spent recent months training around building work at the city’s leisure centre. That work is now finished. And what’s come out of it is spread over two floors.

What’s changed inside the gym

Truro Leisure Centre has completed a major gym improvement programme, designed to give members dedicated zones as their fitness progresses.

Brand new Technogym cardio equipment has gone in, and there are now separate areas for cardio, strength and resistance workouts. There’s also space for functional training, plus room for cooling down and stretching out.

📷Outside Truro Leisure Centre: James Curry, Cllr Karen La Borde, Heath Brandwood, Cllr Leigh Frost, Chris Perry and Ben Wilkinson. Credit: PR4Photos

Who opened the new facilities

Councillor Leigh Frost, Leader of Cornwall Council, officially opened the new gym. He was joined by Councillor Karen La Borde and her husband Steven La Borde, a Truro Leisure Centre member and top ten internationally ranked aqua bike competitor.

Heath Brandwood, Cornwall Council Leisure Services Manager, was there too, along with members of the GLL team.

Leigh already has a gym routine elsewhere in the county. “I’m a member at Bodmin Leisure Centre and use the gym there,” he said. “The improvements here in Truro are fantastic and I’ll definitely be doing some workouts here as well.”

For Karen, the new gym could be a way to see more of her husband. “This is amazing, I love it and it’s great for our local community,” she said. “My husband comes to the centre every day to train, and I’m tempted to start too. I know it will be good for me and, with Steven spending so much time here, I’ll get to see him more!”

📷Working out, back row: Chris Perry, Heath Brandwood and James Curry. Front row: Ben Wilkinson, Cllr Karen La Borde and Cllr Leigh Frost. Credit: PR4Photos

Nearly 40 new members in four days

The centre sits next to Truro College, with its own parking and a 25-metre swimming pool. It currently has around 1,000 members, and that number is already climbing.

“There’s a lot of interest in our new gym and, over just four days, we’ve recruited nearly 40 new members,” said Chris Perry, GLL leisure centre manager. “People of all ages visit on a regular basis, including those who are following the individualised Healthwise programmes we run.”

A thank you to members who put up with the work

GLL runs Truro and eight other leisure centres in Cornwall on behalf of Cornwall Council. More details are on the Truro Leisure Centre page of the Better website.

“I’d like to thank Heath Brandwood and councillors for their support and close working partnership,” said James Curry, GLL Head of Service in Cornwall.

“I’d also like to thank the Truro Leisure Centre members who’ve put up with all the building work in recent months. The improvements have made a big difference and judging by feedback, our users are delighted too.”

📷Cutting the ribbon, left to right: Ben Wilkinson, Steve La Borde, Heath Brandwood, Cllr Karen La Borde, Cllr Leigh Frost, Chris Perry and James Curry. Credit: PR4Photos