A new state-of-the-art gym has opened at Donyngs Recreation Centre in Redhill as part of a £3.4 million refurbishment.

The new gym is almost a third bigger than the old one, and has been relocated to the former recreation hall.

Boasting 100 pieces of new Life Fitness equipment, a new audio-visual system with 50-inch plasma TV screens, and fully air-conditioned, the gym features a range of cardiovascular equipment including treadmills, cycle machines and rowing machines.

A number of pieces of equipment have removable seating to accommodate wheelchairs, and have other modifications that make them suitable for people with disabilities.

The equipment and other facilities will enable the centre to move towards the Inclusive Fitness Initiative’s (IFI) standard for accessible facilities.

A youth gym designed specifically for 11 to 16-year-olds is also nearing completion.

The youth gym will feature a mix of hi-tech activities such as interactive dance mats, its own audio-visual system, and more traditional exercise equipment tailored for younger people. Users of the gym will take part in supervised exercise sessions that will include dance, martial arts, games and competitions.

The training is aimed at promoting self confidence, muscle development, having a healthy heart, breathing and balance.

There are also three new treatment rooms.

Adam De Save, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council executive member for leisure and wellbeing, said: “One of the aims of the refurbishment is to reach out to all members of the community including children, older people and families.”

Coun De Save said: “We hope the new youth gym will encourage young people who are less interested in traditional sports to get fit and active.

“The gym is also being made more accessible for customers with disabilities and has a range of equipment suitable for visually impaired and disabled users.”

Mark Sesnan, managing director of GLL, the council’s leisure operator, said: "The next phase of the refurbishment programme will see the old gym on the lower ground floor kitted out with a fantastic new soft play area to provide a safe, exciting and challenging environment for children under seven years old, and an enlarged fitness and dance studio."

The dry changing areas on the lower ground floor, ground floor toilets and corridors will also be renovated.

Work on the second phase of the refurbishment got underway last week and is expected to be complete in June.

Phased closures of facilities will be necessary to carry out the works and will be publicised around the centre.

Improvements to the entrance, reception, cafeteria, pool area and wet changing facilities will follow in the third phase.

Donyngs Recreation Centre was built in the 1980s and is more than 30 years old.

The total project cost is £3.4 million, with the borough council providing £2 million and GLL contributing £1.4 million.

Most of the public areas will be refurbished with new flooring, wall coverings, lighting and signage.

The changing rooms and reception will be extensively refurbished, the main entrance will be modernised, and there will be a new dedicated cycle storage facility.

The pools are also being retiled, and the toilets renovated.

Behind the scenes, there will be a new air-conditioning system for the gym and exercise areas, along with improvements to the lighting, heating and ventilation systems, mechanical plant, electrical wiring and fire alarms, designed to increase efficiency and reduce power and water usage.