HRH The Duchess of Gloucester has officially opened the new Uttlesford leisure facilities – the result of a £10.5m PFI investment by Leisure Connection and Linteum in partnership with Uttlesford District Council.

The Duchess of Gloucester visited both the Great Dunmow Leisure Centre and the Mountfitchet Romeera Leisure Centre – both of which are used by school children but are open to the public during the school day, in the evenings and at weekends. This dual usage makes the scheme one of the first of its kind in the UK.

The Great Dunmow centre boasts a 25m swimming pool, sports hall, two squash courts, a Harpers-branded gym, dance studio, floodlit tennis courts and synthetic turf pitch and a crèche. The Mountfitchet facility also has a sports hall, Harpers gym, dance studio, floodlit outside courts and a crèche.

The PFI scheme, which received funding from Dutch-based NIB Capital Bank, also included major refurbishments undertaken at the Lord Butler Fitness and Leisure Centre in Saffron Waldon, completed in June this year.

The contract between PFI provider, Linteum, and Uttlesford District Council will last for 32 years and is valued at £100m. Leisure Connection manages the sites on behalf of Uttlesford Leisure.

Brian Perkins, acting chief executive of Uttlesford District Council, said: "The local community identified a few years ago the need for better leisure facilities.

"As a result of working with many people the local community can now benefit from a significant improvement in leisure facilities in three centres across the district."