Paisley

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Our investment in the ambitious Building Better Communities (BBC) programme to improve schools, sports, social care and community facilities has recently been increased from £92million to £103million. Since the programme was approved in June 2009, additional funding has been allocated for work on Paisley Town Hall, and a contribution to the development of Johnstone Town Hall and civic hub.

Along with the £149 million council housing improvement programme, that sees over a quarter of a billion pounds being invested in Renfrewshire communities.

The Lagoon Leisure Centre

The £8.5m transformation of the Lagoon Leisure Centre, as part of the new Paisley Community Sports Hub, is almost complete. The conversion of the former ice arena to offer a spacious cutting edge fitness suite, twice the size of the original is now open to the public. With the very latest in gym equipment, accessibility has also been improved.

Brand new dance studios, a dedicated spin studio and conference space will soon be available. A new multi-functional venue will cater for an array of events and a range of youth and community programmes, including roller sessions, professional dance classes, sports and leisure sessions such as roller hockey and a brand new fitness class programme for teenagers.

This refurbished area of the centre will feature a new day care facility for adults with learning disabilities opening later in spring, with everything from group work rooms and arts and crafts, media and computer rooms, to personal care areas and a sensory/multimedia room.

Work is also well underway on the eagerly awaited modernisation of the Lagoon pool which will open later in spring. Old favourites like the wave machine and splash pool will still be there. The existing flume will be replaced with a new and improved feature to increase the fun factor, and new water features will be introduced. The improvements will see the creation of a new luxury health spa featuring holistic health and wellbeing treatments. The exciting spa plans include steam and aroma rooms, Rasul mud treatment room, heated foot spas and relaxing loungers, monsoon showers and an ice fountain. The spa is due for completion by the autumn of 2012.

And, after all those energetic workouts, there will be a modern coffee shop and lounge area for you to unwind.

Councillor Eileen McCartin, Depute Leader of Renfrewshire Council, said: "Providing integrated facilities for the community is at the heart of the Building Better Communities programme. The Lagoon will be a great example of that.

"There will be further investment in sport and fitness facilities to maintain the Lagoon's position as a leading leisure centre.

"By creating a community sports hub, we are also taking the opportunity to invest in other facilities to benefit the community.

"A day care facility for adults with learning disabilities will deliver a range of activities. Locating facilities in one place will also help break down barriers between adults with learning disabilities and the wider community."

For details on what's currently available in the Lagoon Leisure Centre, visit the Renfrewshire Leisure website.

Councillor Iain Nicolson, Chair of Renfrewshire Leisure Ltd, said: "As construction work continues across Renfrewshire on new and refurbished schools, community and sports facilities, and regeneration plans for our town centres, people are beginning to see the range and quality of the Building Better Communities Programme.

"At Renfrewshire Leisure, we are delighted that current and future customers at the Lagoon will benefit from this major investment."

Improvements to the Lagoon Leisure Centre (pdf - 104KB)

Paisley Town Centre
Regenerating Paisley town centre is a major priority for Renfrewshire Council, and there is an action plan for its long term regeneration being driven forward by the Paisley Vision Board.

You can download an executive summary of the town centre action plan below:
Paisley Town Centre Action Plan: Executive Summary (pdf - 301Kb)

Regular updates on the community infrastructure programme will be delivered to the Paisley North and Paisley South local area committees.

You can also read our latest press release about BBC investment in Paisley:

• £8.5m revamp of The Lagoon underway