Medway Council has opened a ‘state-of-the-art’ sports centre in Rainham.

Cozenton Park Sports Centre replaces the former Splashes in Bloors Lane, after it was demolished due to structural issues.

The new facility offers a 25-metre lane pool, a leisure pool with flume and wave machine, dance and fitness studios, a gym, and a café.

The pools can hold up to 156 people at one time, while two lifts have been installed enabling wheelchair users to enter the water.

Accessible facilities including lockers, toilets and showers, as well as a Changing Places room, have also been created.

The gym, which overlooks Cozenton Park, boasts a range of ‘top level’ equipment, such as treadmills with 18.5-inch internet-enabled screens, elite bikes, rowers and cross trainers.

The centre, costing up to £23.65m, officially opened to the public today (17 July), making it the first new council-built sports centre in Medway for over 30 years.

It was designed by architects Space and Place and built by Willmott Dixon Construction, with work starting in March last year.

Opening hours are 6:30am to 9pm on weekdays, and 8am to 4pm on weekends.

Cllr Nina Gurung, portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, said: “This is an exciting week for everyone in Medway, and I want to welcome everyone to what will be a fantastic community asset for local residents and superb attraction for visitors from near and far.

“Some amazing work has gone into making Cozenton Park Sports Centre a shining example of what a modern leisure centre should be, with accessibility and sustainability at the heart of its design.”

Details about Cozenton Park Sports Centre, including prices and bookings, can be found on Medway Council’s website here.