DRY changing rooms at Maldon’s leisure centre will open this week after a £200,000 refurbishment.

Places for People Leisure invested £180,000 into the project at Blackwater Leisure Centre, in Park Drive, with Maldon District Council contributing £16,000 for the work.

Since the company took over the leisure centre four years ago, they have been refurbishing the site.

This latest month long project has focused on the final piece of work, the dry-side changing rooms which serve the gym and cycling studio.

James Eley, contract marketing manager at Places for People Leisure, said: “This all started a few years ago with the pool area and then the gym.

“This is the final piece of the puzzle now after the cycle studio was completed in the summer.

“The changing rooms were a bit dated and tired looking so they have been completely refurbished.

“One of the big things we heard from our users was that they felt the showers needed changing, so they have been completely re-done.

“This will bring us up to date, and will provide users with a really appealing new changing room area.”

The money contributed by the council has gone on creating a new accessible changing area adjoining the dry-side changing room.

The final additions are being made to the site, with work due to finish on Friday.

The new changing rooms will open to the public on Monday for customers to enjoy.