LEISURE facilities at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton, are among the best in the South West, it was noted at an opening event for more new facilities at the leisure centre.

The chairman of Mid Devon District Council, Cllr John Berry, cut a ribbon to "officially" open the "Meadow Suite", a lecture and meeting facility.

The Meadow Suite is on the grounds of the old pavilion, which has also given space for significant additional parking.

The new facility is not only available for training and other uses by leisure centre staff but also for hire for meetings or functions to outside organisations at a very reasonable cost.

Cllr Bob Deed, cabinet member for community well being, Mid Devon District Council, said that the district council had been trying to improve leisure provision across the district and said that the opening of the Meadow Suite was "another step on the journey for Crediton".

He commented on the improvements made internally at LMLC and explained that external improvements would follow in January with the installation of an Artificial Turf Pitch on an area of hard-courts and an improvement to lighting.

Mr Deed said that funding from Sport England was helping to make the Artificial Turf Pitch possible.

While describing the leisure facilities at Crediton as among the best in the South West, he reminded those present that leisure provision was a discretionary service provided by MDDC, one which was not mandatory but helped greatly improve the health of Mid Devon's residents.

He spoke of the costs involved in running leisure centres in Mid Devon and congratulated those staff who had helped to make savings.

He said that not outsourcing leisure provision had helped it to retain control.

Cllr Berry congratulated Cllr Deed on the lead he had taken with regard to improving leisure provision in the district.

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, described LMLC as a "commodity of excellence" and said "How wonderful it is to have a leisure centre better than that at Cullompton!"

He praised MDDC for the "state-of-the-art" leisure centre at Crediton and also its "excellent" staff.

LMLC manager, Lee Chester, said it had been an "epic 12 months" for everyone at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

He spoke of the positive feedback about the new fitness studio and other facilities, an increase in bookings and thereby, revenue generated, describing it as a "massive increase".