Left to right: Tom Fletcher, Guy Selfe, Cllr Robert Benham, Shaun Powell, Cllr Viddy Persaud, Andrew Blake-Herbert, and Cllr Damian White (credit: Havering Council)
Councillor Damian White was speaking to Time 107.5 at an event marking the completion of the second stage of the £30 million Hornchurch Sport Centre, which is being provided by Havering Council in partnership with Everyone Active.
When asked what was going to be done in Rainham, which has been without a sport and leisure facility since the Chafford Complex closed to the public last year, Cllr White said: “I am delighted to announce next month we will hopefully decide, subject to the agreement of wider cabinet colleagues, to create and build a brand new sporting centre in the south of the borough which should be open and operational in the next two and a half years.”
The second phase at Hornchurch saw the steel frame structure installed, meaning work on the roof can begin from Monday, 4 November.
The centre will feature a 25m swimming pool with eight lanes, a 20m wide diving pool with a movable floor and changing facilities.
It will also have a large fitness suite with brand new machines to provide a variety of cardio and functional training options.
Site of the new Hornchurch Sport Centre
“I learned to swim in the Hornchurch Sport Centre and I swum for two local clubs,” continued Cllr White.
“I think it is fantastic our council is able to invest in our sporting facilities to provide the same opportunities that I had as a youngster for the next generation.”
Site of the new Hornchurch Sport Centre
Tom Fletcher, area contract manager for Everyone Active, said it will be a much more “modern” facility than the existing one which was built in 1956.
“It’s fantastic to see the next stage of the new Hornchurch Sport Centre being completed.
Site of the new Hornchurch Sport Centre (credit: Havering Council)“We’re confident that this investment will provide high-quality sports and recreational services for the whole community.”
The site is due to be completed and opened by September 2020.
The original Hornchurch Sport Centre
