The very last event to be staged at the Gillingham Leisure Centre will be an exhibition about the new community leisure centre which is planned to replace it.

The Three Rivers Partnership, with North Dorset District Council and Gillingham Town Council will be staging an exhibition of plans and proposals about the new community centre on Friday 28 March (6.00-9.00pm), Saturday 29 March (9.00am-7.00pm) and Sunday 30 March (10.00am-3.00pm).

It is intended that the new centre will act as a hub for the wider community, serving all ages and the varied requirements of everyone from Shaftesbury to Mere, as well as the ever increasing population of Gillingham itself.

Sport and leisure facilities will be high on the agenda. At last year’s Expo, when the Three Rivers Partnership consulted local people on what they wanted in the new centre, a 25 metre swimming pool was top of the list.

However, there will also be purpose built meeting rooms for clubs and societies to use. Local businesses will be encouraged to make use of the centre as well, so that it can play its part in the economic generation of the area.

Many local organisations, sports clubs and other groups have already pledged their support for the new community centre and the exhibition will pay tribute to those who have been actively involved in the process to date.

North Dorset District Council has a long term commitment to support the project with £4 million capital. So too has Gillingham Town Council with £250,000. The organisers are keen to encourage others to declare their interest in the proposals and they hope that many organisations and individuals will do so when they visit the three day exhibition.

The big question is: when will the centre be built? The organisers are keen to press on as quickly as possible and they stress that the greater the commitment they get from the community then the sooner the builders can start work.

So come to the exhibition, find out what the plans are and pledge your support for your community centre. The exhibition will not only show what the centre might look like but also how it will be operated and financed.