CHATTERIS took another significant step to gaining its own leisure facilities today with the cutting of the turf to mark the start of construction.

Representatives from Fenland District Council, Chatteris Town Council and Cambridgeshire County Council gathered at Cromwell Community College for a ‘turf-cutting’ ceremony to mark the start of work for a �1.1million leisure suite.

It will comprise a 50-station gym and dance studio, with adjoining reception area and changing rooms. It is due to open this autumn and will be available for use by the whole community.

Fenland District Council has provided �600,000, with the �500,000 balance coming from Chatteris Town Council. The building work is being managed by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Councillor Alan Melton, Fenland Council leader, said: “This project underlines our firm commitment to providing the excellent leisure facilities that Chatteris expects and deserves.

“It is also a great example of what can be achieved even in difficult economic times by different local authorities and other organisations working closely together, with joint funding coming from ourselves and the town council and the county council and college also playing key roles.”

The new gym has been developed alongside the Building Schools for the Future programme at Cromwell. It is part of a wider programme to improve leisure facilities in Chatteris and follows the completion of an all-weather pitch and sports pavilion at Cromwell that opened last autumn.

Councillor Peter Murphy, Mayor of Chatteris, said: “This is another welcome step forward for the town and will mean local residents no longer have to travel to the gyms at the George Campbell in March or the Manor in Whittlesey.”

Members of Cromwell’s governing body and Kier Construction, the building contractors, were also present at today’s ceremony.