MEMBERS of Freedom Leisure Lydney couldn’t wait to hit the gym on Saturday to see the first phase of the recent refurbishment.

The new state-of-the-art fitness suite is part of a £660,000 investment programme being carried out at the centre and overall work is expected to finish in November.

Some £525,000 of funding came from the Forest of Dean District Council and England Squash provided a £9,000 bursary.

The improvements involved extending and modernising the gym area as well as installing TechnoGym equipment and two studios to host classes.

Phase two will see new changing rooms for fitness suite users, refurbished squash courts, refurbished swimming pool and school-use changing rooms.

Freedom took over the management of all five of the council’s leisure facilities in the Forest of Dean last October.

Freedom Leisure area manager, Dave Spencer said: “As a leisure trust we are committed to providing a high standard of affordable and fun leisure facilities for all.”

Councillor Terry Hale (Con, Newland and St Briavels, cabinet member for the community) added: “Our investment in Freedom Leisure Lydney has delivered huge improvements to the gym and wider facilities.”

For more information go to www.freedom-leisure.co.uk