SURF’S UP FOR BUS PASSENGERS
Bus users will be able to swap their usual seats for a free swim in one of the North East’s newest leisure centres over the summer holidays thanks to a local travel partnership.
Passengers in East Gateshead are being offered a free swim at the new Heworth Leisure Centre, on High Lanes opposite Heworth Grange School, if they travel there by bus.
The new leisure centre includes a 4 lane, 25m pool with a range of swimming activities for both adults and children including swimming lessons and aquafit, as well as a new fun pool for younger children. The centre is home to the North East’s only FlowRider, which recreates the thrill of catching and riding a wave. There’s also a gym with the latest state of the art equipment and a range of fitness classes available in the Studio.
The high frequency Orbit 51/52 bus route linking local neighbourhoods with Heworth and Gateshead Town centre makes getting to Heworth Leisure Centre easy.
The offer is being made as part of the East Gateshead Quality Bus Partnership, through which Gateshead Council, Nexus and Go North East are working together to improve bus services in the area.
Martin Harris, Commercial Director of Go North East, said: “Heworth Leisure Centre is a great new facility for East Gateshead, and we want to remind people how easy it is to get there, and around their community, by bus.
“The free swim offer is just one of the benefits that stems from working in partnership with Gateshead Council and Nexus.”
Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said: “Heworth Leisure Centre was deliberately sited in an area with excellent transport links and this offer is a great way of highlighting that. The leisure centre is an absolutely first class facility for local people and I would urge anyone who hasn’t already tried it out to use this offer to pop in and see for themselves what fantastic opportunities they have in their neighbourhood.”
The free swim vouchers which are valid from Monday, 25 July, to Sunday, 4 September, can be found in a promotional leaflet which is available on board Go North East buses in East Gateshead.