A COUNCIL is celebrating its second year in partnership with a leisure company supporting leisure and healthy lives.

Maldon District Council this week marks two years working with Places for People Leisure, who manage the Blackwater Leisure Centre and Dengie Hundred Leisure Centre.

Over the last two years, Places for People have reported an overall increase of 13 per cent in people attending leisure centres and a large increase in swimming and fitness membership.

Customers have also reported a significant improvement in the Leisure Centres, which has been helped by the two million pound refurbishment of the centres and the excellent work of the council’s Leisure and Sports Development team.

Additionally, the council and Places for People have held dozens of events in the last year to support resident’s health and wellbeing. This includes Fitsteps walks and Family Walks, and SWIMTAG, which is available at Blackwater Leisure and the Dengie Hundred Leisure Centres and allows users to track and monitor their swimming. Users have so far swam more than 3100km.

Other events included Body Care Student Programs, Chico’s BoxFit, the return of Super Mumma Fitness to Prom park, parkrun and junior parkrun every weekend in Promenade Park, which will shortly be arriving in Riverside Park, and the first women's indoor Triathlon and the Maldon District Sports Awards.

David Burnham, Leisure and Sports Development Officer, said “If you want to be more active and live a healthier lifestyle check out the Maldon District Leisure Directory. There something for everyone and no reason you should not get involved.”