VISITORS to Thornbury Leisure Centre can now enjoy fit-for-purpose changing rooms thanks to a £250,000 investment.

The changing rooms, which had become run down, have been completely transformed to make them up-to-date and more user friendly.

The investment, by South Gloucestershire Council, was found after Thornbury Town Council launched a campaign to get the authority to spend more money on the community facility.

Cllr Gill Brooks, who helped to lead the campaign, said the improvements were welcome.

She said: "They are absolutely brilliant. They’ve utilised the space far better than it was before.

"We just need more people to go and use these new facilities."

Both the male and the female changing rooms at the centre have new finishings, lockers and cubicles.

A new area has been created in each changing room to provide for those playing dry sports or for larger groups to use. There are also improvements for disabled users, including ceiling hoists and electrical changing benches.

Dean Barney, area manager for Thornbury Leisure Centre, said: "We are very pleased to be able to open these changing rooms on time and ahead of the busy summer holiday period.

"We are also particularly happy with the way the contractors and centre staff members have brought this project to a satisfactory close with minimum disruption to the everyday running of services."

Cllr James Hunt, executive member for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said the changing room improvements were a good example of the authority and the Leisure Trust, which runs the centre, working together.

He said: "This major changing room refurbishment at Thornbury Leisure Centre is yet more evidence of the council’s continuing determination to invest in and improve our local sport and leisure facilities."

The new changing rooms have opened just a month after Thornbury Leisure Centre’s refurbished £100,000 gym was unveiled, including £90,000 worth of state-of-the-art gym equipment.