A LANDMARK occasion in creating Andover's new leisure centre has taken place this week.

Children from Anton Junior School, Test Valley councillors and business members gathered to mark the start of the construction of Andover’s brand new state-of-the-art leisure centre, which is due to open in Spring 2019, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.

The occasion was marked with pupils from Anton Junior School burying a time capsule, which they also decorated, on the site with Test Valley mayor Councillor Carl Borg-Neal.

Test Valley Borough Council community and leisure portfolio holder, Councillor Tony Ward, said: “This was a great opportunity to mark a journey that is taking us from the demolition of some old, outdated buildings towards a fantastic multi million pound leisure centre that our residents expect and deserve.

"There has been a lot of hard work to get us to this point and there is more to come. Although what we see today is an empty site, what will rise from the rubble is the shiny jewel in the crown of our leisure facilities in Test Valley.”

The new Andover Leisure Centre will feature a 165-station fitness suite including a virtual cycling studio, 25m six lane pool with 15m learner pool, dance studios, eight court sports hall, squash courts, adventure play, and café.

The new centre will also offer a splash pad and Clip and Climb to encourage more young people to adopt healthy habits for life.

Places for People Leisure won the contract to design and build the new Andover Leisure Centre with their construction partners Pellikaan Construction and architects Roberts Limbrick.

John Bates, business development director at Places for People Leisure said, “We are pleased to announce that construction of the new Andover Leisure Centre is underway.

"In the coming months, we will continue to work in partnership to ensure that when the new Andover Leisure Centre opens it will offer a full range of innovative activities, that we hope will encourage even more people to enjoy a more active and healthy lifestyle.”