The new, eagerly anticipated University Sports Centre at West Cambridge opened its doors in August 2013. Its state of the art facilities include a fitness, strength and conditioning suite, as well as a vast sports hall.

The Centre marks a new era of sport in the city for both students and locals. But, as impressive as it is, the Centre has received mixed reactions from some of the students. The membership rates – ranging from £19 to £43 per month – have made some wish that the old Fenner’s gym, which up until recently could be used for only £45 per year, was still available.

This week I sat down with the Director of Sport at Cambridge, Tony Lemons, to discuss the issues surrounding the opening of the Centre.

Lemons says that Fenner’s was “so cheap it was almost free” but argues that the building was too small and increasingly unreliable. The floor in the weights room had gone through to the basement several times in recent years. The Centre, on the other hand, “is a different ball game” says Lemons. “Until you’ve seen it, you don’t have a clue what you’re getting for the money".

Having seen it, I have to agree with him. As gyms go, this one does its best to perform at world class standards. It is made up of two training areas. The first one, the fitness suite, displays an extensive range of cardiovascular machines, including treadmills, cross-trainers and bikes, as well as Concept II rowers, skiing ergometers, Jacobs Ladders and Watt Bikes. In addition to this, there is an extensive range of stack loaded, cable and free-weights.

The second one, the strength and conditioning room, is equally impressive, with a range of free weights and a three-lane plyometric track. This room is meant to be an important resource for its members, whether their focus is on health, rehabilitation, or support of sports performance. All of this comes with a highly qualified team of fitness staff who can design programs to meet the individual goals of each member.

Lemons admits that there might still be some students who used to go to Fenner’s that will choose to train elsewhere, but he believes that the Sports Centre has a number of cards up its sleeve that will attract a much larger number of individuals.

Apart from the sheer size of the whole complex, the sports hall at its heart will be used by hundreds of students who were hiring sports halls elsewhere at extortionate rates. The hall has courts marked for basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball, five-a-side football and korfball, and it can also accommodate trampolining, boxing, short tennis, gymnastics and archery.

This is complimented by a multi-purpose room which caters for martial arts, fencing, dancing and exercise classes including circuits, zumba and yoga. Lemons thinks that the classes will be particularly popular, especially considering the low price the students will have to pay for them.

This is due to a deal the Sports Centre has struck with all the colleges. Every year, the colleges pay £10 for each of their students to have a basic membership which entitles them to book classes and sports facilities (other than the gym) at very low rates.

This deal was accepted by the colleges in favour of another one, which involved them paying £28 per student every year, but which offered full use of all the facilities, including the gym. The colleges could choose to charge the students in order to make up for the costs. For example, Trinity, the only one to take up on this offer, now charges its students £30 per year if they wish to make use of the Sports Centre gym, a price still much lower than the one students at other colleges have to pay for their monthly membership.

Lemons thinks it was a shame that more colleges did not take up the initial offer. “I think some of the students will be very angry to find out about this.” he says. “The colleges were supposed to discuss the matter with the students.”

Other than the costs, the issue of location has also been raised: the West Cambridge site, or the Wild West, as some call it, is a place where few undergrads usually venture. This could potentially represent a turn-off for those not already worried by the costs involved. Lemons argues that taking into account the fact that Great St Mary’s Church is technically considered to be the centre of the University, the Sports Centre is actually more central than Fenner’s.

It remains to be seen whether the students will agree. The facilities are indeed impressive, but there is a possibility that many won’t be willing to venture out and see for themselves.