WORK is progressing at pace at Pitsea’s long-awaited new £6.3million swimming pool ahead of its official opening next year. 

This week councillors visited the Eversley Leisure Centre, in Crest Avenue, for an update on the construction of the new pool which began onsite late in December. 

Six weeks into the project, major groundworks have been completed and construction is set to move onto the next phase, Morgan Sindall Construction has confirmed. 

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The swimming pool will be built as an extension to Eversley Leisure Centre in Pitsea and will be operated by Everyone Active, which currently operates the existing centre on behalf of Basildon Council.

Facilities will include a four-lane 25-metre pool, dedicated changing facilities and an extension to the existing car park, providing 50 additional parking spaces for those using the centre. 

Craig Rimmer, Conservative councillor responsible for regeneration, said: “This pool will be a real asset for Pitsea - a place for sporting excellence and accessible, inclusive facilities for the whole community.

“Residents have long asked us for a new pool in Pitsea and I am so pleased the construction is moving along.”

Jeff Henry, Conservative councillor responsible for leisure, arts, culture, health, and wellbeing, added: “We are working with our partners to reduce health inequalities in the borough, and providing high quality leisure facilities helps us achieve this.

“This new pool will provide a space for everyone to get active, learn new skills and enjoy their free time in a high quality, well-maintained facility.”

Eversley Leisure Centre currently has a 60-station health and fitness suite, workout and spin studios, is used as a base by South Essex Gymnastics Club and has a 3G football pitch.

All facilities remain open during the construction works.

Andrew Harper-Rowe, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction’s Essex business, said: “As a local business committed to investing in the Basildon community, Pitsea swimming pool will play a key role in improving health and wellbeing opportunities for the community.

“The whole Essex team is committed to delivering a state-of-the-art, timely leisure centre that will meet the community’s long-term needs.”