New EASYLINE suite at Penarth Leisure Centre

A new ladies’ fitness suite at Penarth Leisure Centre has been given the seal of approval by the country’s leading lady, reigning Miss Wales, Lucy Whitehouse.

Lucy joined the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism Cllr Anthony Ernest to open the new EASYLINE suite, which gives customers fun new ways of getting fit.

Cllr Ernest explained: “The suite contains a total of 18 different exercise stations that give a workout for the whole body. There are a mix of hydraulic machines, stretching stations and steps, and to rotate through each exercise takes just half an hour. I’m delighted that we have been able to bring these new facilities to Penarth Leisure Centre and hope that customers enjoy using the Easyline suite to improve their health and fitness.”

Lucy, who is taking a year out from her job as a nurse at Barry Hospital during her time as Miss Wales, said: "I was thrilled to be asked to spearhead the opening of the EASYLINE Suite at Penarth Leisure Centre. As Miss Wales, it is important to me to promote a healthy body image for all women. I am sure the new suite will be extremely popular"

The suite will be open for female customers to use in addition to their regular LifeStyle gym sessions, as well as people who are training in the Leisure Centre as part of the National Exercise Referral Scheme.

Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, the scheme is helping to make physical activity a new way of life for people who suffer from health problems. People who have conditions which would benefit from exercise are being referred by their Doctors or health professionals to the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Exercise Referral team, and then begin an initial 16-week programme to achieve their health goals.

The EASYLINE suite will widen the options for members of the scheme to exercise at Penarth Leisure Centre, and follows the success of a similar suite that was opened at Barry Leisure Centre in January 2009.

Funding for the new suite has been provided thanks to ‘Health Challenge Vale’ and among those present at the suite’s opening were the Leader of the Vale Council Cllr Gordon Kemp, the Chair of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board David Francis, Vale Council Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services Cllr Dorothy Turner, and Cornerswell Ward Member Cllr John Fraser.

LifeStyle Health and Fitness membership at the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Leisure Centres costs from £23.50 a month, or you can pay each time you train. You can find out more online at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/lifestyle or by calling 01446 732457.

Captions

Photo above right: Miss Wales Lucy Whitehouse is joined in the new Easyline suite at Penarth Leisure Centre by Cllr Anthony Ernest, Exercise Referral Professional James Cook and Exercise Referral Co-ordinator Jamie Lane.

Photo above left: Joining Lucy to celebrate the opening of the new Easyline suite are (from left to right) Cllr Dorothy Turner, Cllr Anthony Ernest, Vale Council leader Cllr Gordon Kemp, Cllr John Fraser, Fiona Kinghorn from the local public health team, and the Chair of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board David Francis.

Lucy Whitehouse's chosen charity as Miss Wales is The Joshua Foundation. This Spring they are organising 'Strictly Cymru Dancing' to raise funds, and you can find out how you can get involved at www.thejoshuafoundation.co.uk.