*UPDATE 1.40PM*

Penarth Leisure Centre will remain closed today, February 24, and tomorrow, February 25, while an action plan is put in place ahead of the reopening. Penarth Leisure Centre has released the following statement on Facebook:

Penarth leisure centre will remain closed today and tomorrow (24th & 25th). All full Expressions members are welcome to use Cardiff International Pool to attend classes and to use the gym and swimming pool.
All customers who have had swimming lessons cancelled will automatically recieve a credit note which will be added to your child's account.
The Free Swimming Initiative will not be offered at Cardiff International Pool. But, it is still offered at Vale of Glamorgan swimming pools working in partnership with Parkwood Community Leisure.
An action plan is being put in place working towards opening the centre as soon as is safely possible. Again, we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and we will continue to keep you updated.

 

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*UPDATE 10.35AM*

Penarth Leisure Centre has released the following statement on Facebook:

"Penarth Leisure Centre is still closed. Expressions members are welcome to use Cardiff International Pool at no extra charge, Barry and our other sites are also available. If you still have belongings at the centre, please call in to reception where a member of our team will go and get your belongings for you. Swimming lessons are also cancelled this evening.
Thank you for your patience during this time and we apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused."

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*UPDATE 10.30am Monday, February 24*

Parkwood Community Leisure, which operates Penarth Leisure Centre on behalf of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, has released the following statement:

"We can confirm that a fire broke out at Penarth Leisure Centre on Sunday, February 23, at approximately 5.15pm.

"As soon as the fire was detected the building was evacuated in accordance with safety procedures and there were no injuries.

"At this stage we are unable to confirm the cause of the fire but we are working closely with South Wales Fire Service and we will be carrying out a full investigation.

"We would like to thank our staff and fire crews for their quick response to the situation last night, along with Penarth Leisure Centre customers, for their patience during the evacuation.

"The centre will remain closed today and we will advise customers further when we know more regarding reopening.

"If customers have enquiries about booking at Penarth Leisure Centre, please call Parkwood Community Leisure on 01446 403000.

"Customers do have access to other facilities in the area such as Cardiff International Pool and Vale of Glamorgan venues."

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FIRE crews are currently tacking a blaze at Penarth Leisure Centre after a fire broke out in the sauna earlier this evening.

25 members of the public and staff were evacuated before fire crews attended the scene. Nobody was hurt or suffered smoke inhalation from the fire.

One gym user said they saw smoke 'billowing' out of reception and that people from the gym, swimming pool and a circuits class had all been evacuated from the building and huddled outside in foil blankets.

Ten fire fighters in breathing apparatus tackled the blaze, which was described as still in 'hot spots and small pockets of fire' earlier this evening.

Crews from Penarth, two from Cardiff Central, a water bowser from Barry, Roath, a command unit from Cwmbran and a hydraulic platform from Ely all attended the scene.

A South Wales Fire Service spokeswoman said that three hose reel jets were used to tackle the blaze after it was first reported around 5.15pm.

Ian Buckley, station manager of Bridgend fire station, said at the scene earlier this evening: "It burnt through the roof of the sauna at the rear of the premises.

"As it stands the fire broke through the roof but we can't make any estimate about the damage.

"We don't know how it started and an investigation is ongoing.

"Nobody was hurt and everybody was evacuated safety."

He added: "The road was closed off due to the amount of vehicles attending the scene and to ensure public safety.

"We believe the fire is contained in the sauna and investigations are still continuing at present.
"We have no idea when it is due to reopen."

The Vale Council, which owns the leisure centre that is operated by Parkwood Leisure Ltd, is set to meet tomorrow morning to discuss the latest situation and when the centre will reopen.

Penarth and Cardiff South MP Stephen Doughty attended the scene and said that the key thing was that nobody was hurt and that the fire service had the situation under control.

One gym user added that some people continued their personal training sessions outdoors after they had been evacuated.