The Junction Sports & Leisure Centre

"Staff are friendly. Clean, accessible, pool is warm. Multiple other activities offered as well as soft play and cafe."

"I have been here a couple of times in the last few weeks - not what you would call a big boys gym but ok - lacking in certain areas – no facility for standing calf training, no facility for free weight shoulder pressing, some of the Bench padding has holes in or is patched up with black gaffer tape. The entry price is quite reasonable but you get what you pay for, as it is reasonably priced you tend to get quite a few immature ‘adults’ especially in the afternoons (early school finish?) – they don’t know or don’t care about gym etiquette, saw one teenager using gym equipment while eating a bag of Crisps, others taking 5 – 10 mins between each set, sitting on other benches/exercise machines while waiting for friends to finish their set. Sitting on the benches/exercise machines playing on their phones. I have even seen one guy put a towel on a weight training Bench in front of the mirrors then go and use the leg exercise machine like he has reserved the Bench - alaa Germans reserving Sun loungers on Holiday. Another Guy actually sits on the floor next to the apparatus he is using and starts eating energy bars and having protein drinks - a quarter of an hour Tea Break! Whilst leaving his jacket on the apparatus so no one else can use it. Gym staff saying nothing they could have told him there is a Café upstairs People also bringing their personal bagging into the gym area - not only a trip hazard but also the lighter weights tend go missing. There are general hygiene disinfectant bottles close to most stations to wipe down machines after use helps prevent covid,colds and flu etc – hardly anyone uses them - staff seem oblivious to this and say nothing, Management could print off signs ref time between sets not playing on phones and wiping down the apparatus – not difficult but not done? The lockers are £1 coin operated. If the lockers were bar coded people would not have the excuse of ‘I forgot my one pound coin for the locker’ and thus taking their Bags into the Gym, it would be much easier especially for paid up members to be able to blip open a locker (this facility is on the card they blip the barcode scanner on entry to the gym) this would also stop the adult school children from going through the lockers looking for £ coins (I have witnessed this). Also via the entry system is the busiest time of day Bar Chart on the internet this registers any entrant to the y.m.c.a so you can’t tell if the swimming pool specifically is busy or the gym is busy separately – needs refining. Make this a non cash card only entry, at present I think you can pay £5 cash for an adhoc session, if the Junction was Card only this would A. Make it safer for staff (no cash carried) and B. there would be traceability of any trouble makers i.e. if there was to be an assault/theft etc, if the perpetrators had gained entry with cash they then exit the building and you would have a uphill task of identification if they have used a bank/membership card the details are traceable. Another item that needs addressing is the piped music, mostly misogynistic sexist tripe that belongs in a museum or trash can, I'm quite sure the females who pay to use the Gym don’t like being described as ‘pretty little hoe’s etc, & if 20% of the so called lyrics get deleted out it would seem obvious that it’s not suitable for a Catholic organisation like the y.m.c.a. to be playing - just because people of colour (and I’m one by the way) are mouthing the so called lyrics it doesn’t make it ok, I almost feel embarrassment. The Gym is really geared to the light user. Paid up club members don’t seem to get any special perks, so if you like this and don’t mind/care catching something or waiting for people to finish playing on phones this is the gym for you. Also one or two people live streaming with a camera on a tripod while using the gym wasting more time they are on YMCA premises surely they need permission for this? Again not questioned by staff, I for one don’t want to be appear on line without my permission. Gym staff should keep an eye out & take affirmative action."

"Went for an Aqua Christmas Do. Well organised, good venue with efficient staff."

"Good and reasonably priced place to take the kids to Soft play with nice cafe. However, the soft play area needs a good clean. The mats could do with being moved as disgusting in the joints. Other than that, my Granddaughter loves it."

"Great place, with loads of different activities/businesses under one roof. Gym, swimming pool, soft play, nail and beauty treatments, and few others. Also has a cafe on the premises, overlooking the swimming pool and the car park. Car park is nearby, quite specious, pay and display (being checked for tickets regularly!). Has lift and reception right by the entrance, so you won't get lost. Net over busy place, which is quite good."