Exeter City Council has invested £200,000 in a refurbishment of the fitness suites at Clifton Hill and Wonford sports centres in Exeter.

Each gym will offer cardiovascular equipment by Precor and a range of strength training machines supplied by Technogym.

In addition, both 40-station fitness suites will be redecorated and feature new air conditioning systems and improved lighting.

In order to make the gyms more accessible for people with disabilities, podiums at both sites will be removed and most of the fitness equipment will be Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) accredited.

Wonford Sports Centre is hoping to achieve IFI site accreditation in February 2006.

The gym at the Wonford site will close on 29 December as part of the refurbishment and re-open on 14 January 2006. It currently has 600 members.

The centre’s other facilities, which include a four-court sports hall, a sauna and a football pitch, will remain in operation during the work.

The upgrade to the Clifton Hill gym, which has 900 members, was completed on 17 December. The centre also offers two squash courts, a four-court sports hall and a solarium.

The refurbishment project has been funded by the council in partnership with DC Leisure.

In November, DC Leisure’s contract to manage the council’s leisure facilities, held since 1997, was extended for three years, up to 2010.

The council-owned sites include Exeter Arena Athletics Stadium, Northbrook Approach Golf Course, Northbrook Swimming Pool and Pyramids Swimming and Leisure Centre. Details: www.exeter.gov.uk