Fighting Fit

Increasing numbers of people in central Fife are getting fit.

Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre says over 300, 000 people have come through the doors since the facility opened a year ago.

Visitor numbers are up by just under 200, 000 since the new centre opened.

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust 145,858 people regularly use the centre's swimming pools and health suite and 162,023 using dryside facilities such as the gym, sports hall and fitness classes. 

All ages have been attracted to the town's Esplanade to get active, there have been 97,904 under 18s, 189,203 adults and 20,774 over 60s. 

Ed Watson, chief executive for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: 

"Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre presented a real opportunity for the Trust to deliver a much better range of leisure opportunities thanks to the addition of more dryside facilities compared to the town’s old swimming pool. 

"It is extremely encouraging to see so many people, of all ages, taking advantage of the centre and what it has to offer. The Trust has committed to improving the customer experience in order to increase user satisfaction and improve the quality of service deliver, so that ultimately, more people get more active more of the time. These annual figures demonstrate that Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre is meeting customer expectations and is providing people with great facilities and programmes to encourage a more physically active lifestyle – key in promoting health and wellbeing in our communities."

Fife Council invested £15.3 million in the new leisure centre. The project was also awarded a grant of £1 million from sportscotland's Sports Facilities Fund. 

Cllr Mark Hood, Fife Council Executive Committee Member added: 

"These numbers are very encouraging. Improving health and wellbeing is a top priority for the council and the popularity of Kirkcaldy's new leisure centre means we have more active local people as a result. There is some great outreach work being delivered by the Trust in the local community too that is breaking down the barriers for people to try out exercise and encouraging them to keep it up."