Harold Hill's Central Park Leisure Centre is to get a cash injection of £700 000 from the second round of the government's Swimming Pool Support Fund. The money has been welcomed by local MP, Julia Lopez, who is a Minister in the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, which works with Sports England to back neighbourhood sports facilities across the country. 

The latest money, which will be spent on solar panels to secure the pool's long-term energy efficiency, comes on top of a £141 000 grant given to the vital Harold Hill sports facility in November. The Swimming Pool Support Fund has invested £80 million into 442 swimming pools across the country since its introduction last year. 

With the increase in energy costs over recent years, the Government has recognised the importance of these facilities to people of all ages, and stepped in to make sure the doors of local pools and leisure centres are kept open for local communities.

The latest round of funding is intended to help the longer term energy and financial resilience of the sector. Alongside the Swimming Pool Support Fund, the government has invested over £300 million in grassroots sports facilities to get people active, with Mrs Lopez securing a range of support for Hornchurch & Upminster in recent months. 

Previous investments into Havering via this programme include:

£390,000 to improve tennis courts, including the full refurbishment of the courts in Harold Wood Park via the Lawn Tennis Association.

£316,809 via an earlier round of the Swimming Pool Fund.

£29,846 via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Fund, to support new facilities at Harold Hill FC, Upminster Park Rovers Junior FC, Elite Colts FC and Tigers Junior FC

Commenting, Julia Lopez MP said:

"I want to make sure swimming continues to be an option for residents in Harold Hill and across the constituency, particularly those with young kids. It is great to have secured hundreds of thousands of pounds in extra government support to maintain vital grassroots facilities - whether the pool in Central Park, the Harold Wood courts or pitches across Hornchurch & Upminster. Having access to great leisure facilities is fundamental to a good quality of life and a healthy lifestyle - which is why it is a campaign priority for me as both the local MP and a Minister'