Plymouth City Council Leader Vivien Pengelly and Neil Sherreard, Divisional Managing Director for Balfour Beatty, cut the first turf on the site of the city's new Life Centre.

The turf cutting marked the start of work on the multi-million pound leisure facility following the signing of contracts with the construction firm.

Councillor Pengelly said: "This is such an exciting day for the Council and for the people of Plymouth, who have waited a long time for a top-class sport and leisure facility to be built in the city.


"The Life Centre is our biggest ever investment in leisure facilities and we are proud of the hard work that has gone into ensuring it will benefit people of all ages and all sporting abilities. It will offer something for everyone, from training sessions for our most talented sportsmen and women to beginners' fitness classes; from mother and toddler swimming lessons to disability bowls.

"We look forward to seeing work start on what is one of the city's most eagerly awaited and exciting projects in many years."

Work on the centre is scheduled to be completed in September 2011. The Mayflower Centre and Central Park Leisure Pools will remain open until building work is complete.

(CD)