Swallows Leisure Centre and Swale Community Leisure creating Family Adventure Zone as part of refurbishment work

An indoor climbing attraction for all the family is forming part of a major refurbishment of a Kent leisure centre.

Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne is undergoing major changes ahead of a relaunch this spring.

The work, costing £2.5 million, includes a refurbished gym, new roof for the swimming pool and a fresh cafe for the reception area. There is also a programme of works taking place at Swale Community Leisure's neighbouring centre on the Isle of Sheppey.

But a major part of the redevelopment is to create a Family Adventure Zone for Sittingbourne.

It will include soft play, indoor climbing for all ages and an additional smaller self-contained cafe on-site offering hot and cold drinks and snacks to visitors.

It will also have its own entrance - reached from the Wyvern end of the centre, opposite Sittingbourne Police Station.

The existing Adventure World soft play at Swallows has now closed to make way for a bigger and better offering within the new Family Zone, with the space it has vacated set to be used for Virtual Spin.

The gym currently within the large hall is moving upstairs - with a new mezzanine floor creating additional space for it - to allow for the Family Adventure Zone to take over the large downstairs space. Its high ceiling, making it ideal for indoor climbing structures.

Soft play and the indoor climbing, which could have up to 12-15 different walls to tackle, will operate together in the one space to enable families to enjoy an outing with offspring of all ages.

Children's soft play and climbing parties will also eventually be available once the facilities are up and running.

Dave Harcourt, chief executive of Swale Community Leisure, which runs the leisure services on behalf of Swale Borough Council says he hopes the new family attractions will be a major boost for the town.

"It's going to be so much better" he said. "It's very exciting."

The indoor climbing provider is yet to be formally announced but Mr Harcourt said the Family Adventure Zone project is scheduled to be ready for May half term.

The swimming pool is expected to reopen on April 1.

For more details visit about either leisure centre and to keep up-to-date with reopening times visit www.swaleleisure.com