MORE than £3.5M will be invested in leisure facilities in Chard, Wincanton and Yeovil as a new management contract begins.
South Somerset District Council announced in mid-February that not-for-profit Freedom Leisure would be taking over the management of its swimming pools and leisure centres from April 1, under a new 15-year contract.
READ MORE: Freedom Leisure set to take over leisure centres in Yeovil, Wincanton and Chard
The non-for-profit trust, which replaced LED Leisure, will be responsible for running the Goldenstones Leisure Centre and Westlands Sports & Fitness Centre in Yeovil, as well as Wincanton Sports Centre and the new pool and leisure centre currently being constructed in Chard.
The council has now confirmed that upwards of £3.5M will be poured into these facilities to make “changes and improvements” after the centres reopen on Monday (April 12).
Lynda Pincombe, the council’s specialist in strategic planning, said: “We are excited to be working with Freedom Leisure over the length of the contract, and look forward to seeing investment in the facilities across South Somerset that will benefit our communities and enable them to be healthy and have access to exceptional cultural and leisure activities.”
Freedom Leisure, which is based in East Hoathly in East Sussex, currently manages more than 100 leisure facilities across the UK, including five in and around the New Forest national park.
Managing director Ivan Horsfall Turner said: “Together with South Somerset District Council we aim to continue to encourage a happy, healthy community – enabling more people to be more active more often.”
The council previously committed in February 2019 to carry out more than £900,000 of upgrades to its two existing pools over a five-year period as part of its capital programme.
Many of these upgrades – such as replacing the pumps and boilers, re-tiling the pool and improving ventilation in Wincanton’s changing rooms – were put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The council has not provided a detailed breakdown of where and when the £3.5M will spent, or how much of the work consists of new projects instead of the previously agreed maintenance.
However, it has confirmed the cost will be shared jointly between the council and Freedom Leisure.
A spokesman said: “Improvements to the community facilities will include expanded gyms and studios, new fitness equipment and some refurbishment work.
“Centres will also benefit from energy saving works to improve the efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of the building.
“The £3.5M is a joint investment from both the council and Freedom Leisure. Some of that investment (in part) is still subject to approval further down the line.
“A proportion of the capital expenditure will be required to replace or upgrade plant and machinery, which would have been necessary regardless of who held the contract.”
Chard’s new swimming pool and leisure centre is set to be operational by March 2022 at the latest.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here