Just on the edge of the Lake District, the coastal town of Whitehaven benefits from a state-of-the art sports centre.
In fact the Whitehaven Sports Centre has something for everyone.
North Country Leisure, who operate the sports centre, is a not for profit charity. It was established in 1998 to manage leisure centres and services on behalf of local councils. They believe that the facilities they manage operate best when they work closely with the local community and this tight knit relationship also tumbles over onto their projected plans and usage of the centres they manage.
When the Whitehaven Sports Centre Management Team wanted to re-utilise an existing area of the main sports hall, they turned to international flooring specialists Gerflor to provide the solution they would need. And it was a solution that was quick, adaptable and right on budget.
The designated area that would need to be re- designed and converted was a former squash court. Gerflor would be required to deliver a loose-laid solution over the existing timber floor without the need to remove it. This would of course save the sports centre time and money, enabling the centre to turn a “dead space” into a more useable area where small group exercise classes could be held. The Whitehaven Sports Centre Func Zone was about to take shape.
Recreation 45 from Gerflor was the specified product. It is an ideal solution for multi-purpose uses and is also highly recommended for light recreation activities.
Recreation 45 is a commercial grade resilient sheet flooring ideal for sports and multi-purpose use, available in solid and wood designs. It provides cushioning for children and adults, together with easily handling everyday sports and recreational activities. The product is treated with Protecsol, which renders polish redundant. The noise reduction qualities are at 17db and can be 100% recyclable.
The new Func Zone would require approximately 74sqm of Recreation 45 in the stunning Gris 2711 and Naranja 6160 colours. After all it had to be ‘funky’ and functional.
Gerflor also specified their Isolsport underlay to isolate the material from the old existing timber. Isolsport is a vinyl isolating membrane specially designed for sports environment. Its design enables loose laying on sensitive subfloors (risks of humidity, coated) when it is associated with a Taraflex sports floor. The raised effect allows humidity to circulate. The finished laid Recreation 45 was then line marked with paint to achieve the final required look.
Lynn Almond, Area Fitness Manager, North Country Leisure commented: “We chose Gerflor as our solution partner after recommendation from a supplier and visiting their website. They visited our site and recommended a suitable product which was well within our limited budget and giving honest advice on what we would require for the type of activity we were suggesting.”
Recreational Coatings Limited based in Stockport, Cheshire were in fact the chosen contractor who have been working in the Sports Surfacing Industry throughout the UK for over 20 years.
Lynn Almond went on to further add: “The colour scheme was really great and matched what we had planned and the option for additional line markings was a bonus.”
Recreation 45 from Gerflor has no heavy metals, includes no solvents and with no formaldehyde used is also 100% REACH compliant. Lynn Almond finally commented: “We are really happy with the floor and the room has been a great success within group exercise, personal training and for individual use. A great extension to the offering we already have at Whitehaven Sports Centre.”
