THERE is a pleasing symmetry about the visit of Princess Anne to officially open Gillingham’s transformed leisure centre on Monday.

She last visited the centre in 1988 to open a new fitness suite. More than 20 years later, the Princess Royal will return to a facility unrecognisable from the one she last visited.

Rebuilt, re-equipped, and renamed, the RiversMeet Centre is the kind of flagship community project on which David Cameron would hope to build his Big Society.

In 2007, the dated Gillingham Leisure Centre faced closure following the announcement by cash-strapped North Dorset District Council that it would withdraw funding for many non-statutory services.

It was then that the Three Rivers Partnership of community volunteers stepped forward to take on a £6m redevelopment of the centre, harnessing financial support from town and district councils and expertise from local businesses to deliver a bright, modern facility serving 30,000 people within a five-mile radius. John Havill, a retired engineer with two careers in the Royal Navy and defence industry behind him, has led the project.

“The partnership was faced with the difficult decision to take over as service provider.

“The deal with NDDC was that if we could provide a viable business case we would inherit £4m of capital.

“In December 2008 we gained the unanimous backing of the cabinet. That was a good day,” he said.

The evolution of the centre is a testament to Gillingham’s community spirit.

“It has developed from the site of an open air swimming pool funded by public subscription and opened in 1956 as a dedication to the sacrifices of those who served in WWII.

“A building to house the pool was added by the district council in 1973 and is practically all that remains of the facility handed to 3RP in 2007.

Today the same structure houses a brand new six-lane, 25-metre, competition standard pool whose waters are warmed by an air-source heat pump.

“A viewing room decorated with a mural tiled with designs from local primary school children separates the pool from the sports hall, which now boasts a new floor and gas heaters that keep its temperature at a comfortable 19 degree.

The rest of the structure is new development, the result of an ingenious and sensitive design by Philip Proctor Associates, the company responsible for Sturminster Newton’s Exchange arts centre.

“An upstairs gym is equipped with the latest CV and weight training equipment and fully accessible to wheelchair users. A treatment room and a dance studio have been built in roof space.

The building’s main structure houses a foyer and the second outlet for Gillingham’s 918 café, which has rapidly spawned its own community of sixth-form students from neighbouring Gillingham School.

“Above the foyer are a suite of meeting rooms, naturally lit by full length windows which look west to glorious sunsets.

Foundations have been dug for a community hall – the next stage of the project, which could see a £1m arts facility added to the leisure centre.

Few who have witnessed the transformation of the leisure centre would bet against their success.