LOCAL MP Ranil Jayawardena recently visited the new Hart Leisure Centre in Fleet as building works steadily progress.

The new £23 million investment is due to be completed in spring 2017, with the new centre boasting three state-of-the-art swimming pools, a full fitness suite, male and female sauna and steam cabins, a climbing wall, a coffee shop, multiple sports pitches and a sports hall.

The current leisure centre hosts families and residents from all around Hart, including Hook, Odiham and Hartley Wintney, with many children and adults signed up to clubs and classes at the Fleet-based centre.

The Construction Industry Training Board invited Mr Jayawardena to join them on a visit where he took the opportunity to meet construction workers, including local apprentices, who are working on the site.

“I am very pleased to see the new Hart Leisure Centre taking shape. This investment in our area will be a fantastic improvement for all who use the current facilities. As someone who learnt to swim in the existing leisure centre, it will be good to see it updated to modern standards.”

The visit last week came after a ‘topping out’ of the new building this month, on July 13.

Representatives from Hart District Council, Willmott Dixon, Everyone Active and GT3 Architects attended an event to celebrate the highest point of the building work being completed on the new leisure facility.

Tim Southern, chairman of Hart District Council, said: “I’m really pleased to be able to celebrate this milestone in the development of the new Hart Leisure Centre.

“The structure is impressive and now the building is at its highest point, we will see the centre come to life with the internal work. This new facility will be a great asset to the community.”