Olympic-sized jewel in the crown

From the archive, first published Monday 14th Nov 2005.

Swimming club members were the first people to leap into the only Olympic-sized pool in the South at 6am today.

The 50m pool is the jewel in the crown of the £26.1 million K2 Centre, which has finally opened for business.

The two-storey complex is a sporting Mecca with athletics track and outdoor seating for 450 people and artificial turf pitches for football, hockey and netball. It houses £100,000 worth of equipment.

Inside, the main hall is large enough for 12 badminton courts and seating for 1,800. There are markings for netball, basketball and five-a-side football. A 12m climbing wall can be viewed from outside as people arrive.

The five squash courts have glass rear walls for spectators. There is a bowling hall and martial arts room while the impressive gymnastics hall has the latest equipment and the longest tumble track in Britain.

The glass-fronted gym overlooking Pease Pottage Hill and Brighton Road has 150 exercise stations and two dance studios.

Then there is the pool, christened today by Crawley Swimming Club.

Both ends of its floor are adjustable so it can be made deep enough for high diving at one while children learn to swim at the other.

A shallow leisure pool nearby provides an alternative for youngsters.

The Olympic planning team has already visited with a view to using the design for the 2012 Olympic pool in east London.

K2, owned by Crawley Borough Council, replaces the leisure centre in Haslett Avenue which was too small.

Sale of the land to developer Fairview Homes funded the £37 million project, which includes new gyms and sports halls at Oriel High School, Matthews Drive, Maidenbower, and Ifield Community College's new campus in Crawley Avenue.

K2 is built on land owned by Thomas Bennett Community College in Ashdown Drive. Pupils will have access using a special entrance away from the public.

Security measures, including visible CCTV screens and cameras, have impressed the police.

Senior leisure officer Paul Baker said planners had spoken to local, regional and national sports clubs since they began work three years ago.

As a result, K2 is adaptable enough to host prestigious sporting events.

There have already been enquiries from the British judo, English badminton and English basketball associations about hosting events.

Most swimming clubs in Sussex have already booked to use the pool.

Crawley Town Centre Access Group, which aims to improve access for people with disabilities, has been heavily involved to ensure the centre can cater for all.

Mr Baker said: "We can fulfil the need at every level from the complete beginner to the Olympic-standard athlete.

"It will be a training venue for the 2012 Olympics without a doubt."

Project manager Peter Allen took responsibility of the building last Monday on behalf of the council.

There was frantic activity all week as equipment and furniture was moved in, more than 200 staff were trained and last-minute jobs like laying down floors and cleaning were completed.

Mr Allen said: "It's organised chaos and everything is going beautifully to programme.

"As long as everybody who visits on Monday goes out smiling I'll be pleased.

"We've been building this for the public and as long as they come in saying ëwow' and leave saying ëwow' then we've done our job."

The centre, the largest local authority health and fitness complex in Britain, will be a base to promote healthy lifestyles alongside Crawley Primary Care Trust.

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