Most people in New Addington are pleased with the shiny new leisure centre
But some are concerned that the price of a membership at the gym has increased by £10 a month.
Better, which runs the centre, has defended the price increase, saying it is now in line with other facilities in Croydon.
Croydon Council spent £25 million on the leisure centre which opened on January 3.
The opening was delayed by more than a year due to unexpected issues with a Thames Water soakaway tank.
There’s a 25-metre, six-lane main swimming pool and a learning pool, a fitness suite, sports halls and a multi-purpose activity studio.
Susan McCarthy, 46, of King Henry’s Drive works at Tudor Academy and has visited the leisure centre with school kids.
“I haven’t been in the swimming pool but we've taken the children swimming there,” she said.
“They get their own changing room with one for girls and one for boys.
“And there is two pools, a smaller one for the children who aren’t as confident.
“I like the fact that it’s green, especially the top bit that is all lit up, all the lighting is eco-friendly.”
But 27-year-old Scott Ainsworth-Payne, of Fieldway, said he does not think that it is fair to increase the cost of a monthly membership.
He said: “I don’t use it but looking on Facebook the main gist seems to be it has gone up in price.
“It is good we’ve got that investment but memberships have gone up £10, that makes a big difference to the most deprived areas in New Addington.”
A spokesman for Better told us that before the new leisure centre was unveiled it was a cheaper price than the rest of the borough.
“New Addington Leisure Centre members had a lower price for their membership compared to the rest of the borough but with the new centre offering vastly superior facilities, which members have told us they value, this has been bought into line with the rest of the borough’s leisure centres,” he said.
“This year we aim to get more people more active, more often.”
The leisure centre is part of the council’s regeneration plans for New Addington.
Planning permission has been granted for a new community centre in Fieldway, combining the existing Fieldway Family Centre and the Timebridge Community Centre.
A new free school for children with special educational needs is also planned to open on the Timebridge site in 2021.
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