Risca Leisure Centre has been officially reopened after a £300,000 make over.
The centre now has a refurbished and extended fitness suite, poolside health suite facilities and a new viewing gallery overlooking the swimming pool and two new 3G astro-turf pitches.
Works have also included a new heat recovery system to improve the environment for pool users and reduce the carbon emissions.
John Griffiths AM, Minister for Culture and Sport, officially reopened the leisure centre this week and used the occasion to announce a new £5 million pilot scheme to boost leisure facilities across Wales.
He said: “We know how important it is for people across Wales to have excellent facilities like this one in Risca to encourage them to be physically active and we want to see more of this type of facility in all parts of Wales.
“That’s why the Welsh Government will be investing £5m in an interest-free loan scheme for local authorities from April 2015.”
The Minister was joined Cllr Michael Gray, Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services and Gwyn Price AM for Islwyn for the opening.
Cllr Dave Poole said: “Following the recent improvements in Newbridge Leisure Centre, the completion of Risca Lesiure Centre demonstrates our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing within our communities. Our vision is to get more people, more active, more often.
“We have a number of key developments within Leisure Services planned for the coming years to name but a few we have the completion of the Centre of Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, customer loyalty schemes and we plan to work more closely with schools and parents to support children’s sport.”
• Sporty school children in Caerphilly County Borough have recently been trained up on how they can promote sport and an active lifestyle among their peers.
A number of training days have taken place giving primary school pupils a chance to meet up with other schools and older Young Ambassadors to discuss ideas for motivating, inspiring and encouraging their fellow students to give sport a try.
The pupils who attended the training days have been identified as ‘Bronze Ambassadors’ within their primary schools, and will promote after-school sports clubs and encourage their peers to be more active.