Huge investment in leisure facilities in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy has been hailed a success, as attendance figures show they have proved popular with customers.
In just three months Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes has attracted more than 150,000 customers, while Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre has drawn 19,000 people in its first three weeks, according to the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust.
The figures for the Glenrothes centre averages out at around 1,650 people per day using the facilities and programmes.
Meanwhile, Kirkcaldy’s new swimming pools and dryside facilities have attracted 10,000 more people than the town’s old swimming pool, with attendance more than doubling to 680, compared to 300 during the same period last year.
Scott Urquhart, the trust’s area leisure manager, said: “It is really satisfying to have both centres up and running and to be able to deliver the range and quality of programmes and activities the trust is passionate about.
“The new centres allow for so much more choice particularly in Kirkcaldy, which now has dryside facilities and programmes which were not available at the old swimming pool which means our teams can deliver a range of classes, making the best of their experience and expertise.
“The local response to the centres is fantastic and we fully expect that this increase in attendance will be one that continues.”
The council-funded regional facilities are part of the Future of Leisure Programme that has seen a £55 million investment in new centres in Dunfermline, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy.
Ed Watson, chief executive of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “Thanks to the mix of quality facilities and choice of programming, the centres are proving popular with people of all ages and abilities.
“The trust is committed to getting more people in Fife more active so that they can enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle; key to delivering this commitment is high-quality facilities which are affordable and accessible for the local community.”