Five leisure facilities in Somerset have been saved from permanent closure following a £215,000 rescue deal from Somerset Council, including Wells Leisure Centre.
Fusion Lifestyle, which operated facilities across Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells, went into administration on 1st April after experiencing ‘significant financial difficulties’ following the coronavirus pandemic.
The council provided £370,000 of interim funding to keep the five sites open for a further three months, while it raced to procure a new provider to run each of the facilities from early-July.
Officers confirmed in late April that two companies who already operate numerous sites in Somerset were in the running for a two-year contract – which may not include ‘anything new and exciting in terms of investment’.
The council confirmed on 2nd June that Freedom Leisure would be taking on the five sites in the short term, ahead of a more comprehensive procurement exercise in 2028.
Freedom Leisure, which is based in East Hoathly in East Sussex, currently runs facilities in the former Sedgemoor and South Somerset areas, including the 1610 gyms in Bridgwater and Chard, the Chard Leisure Centre, Wincanton Sports Centre and Goldenstones Leisure Centre in Yeovil.
The five sites which will be run by the company under this new deal are:
- Frome Leisure Centre, Princess Anne Road, Frome
- Shepton Mallet Lido, Shaftgate Avenue, Shepton Mallet
- Strode Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, Strode Street, Street
- Tor Sports and Leisure Centre, Oriel Drive, Glastonbury
- Wells Leisure Centre, Charter Way, Wells
The two-year contract, which is worth £214,594, will officially begin on 1st July, with existing users being contacted in the coming weeks about any changes they need to make to their memberships.
Council deputy leader Liz Leyshon said she was ‘delighted and relieved’ by the announcement. She said: “The new operator already runs leisure services in Somerset, and the two-year contract will ensure that we can keep the facilities open and protect the staff who have continued to work there through a very unsettling time.
“The experienced leisure operator will now undertake a comprehensive audit of all the facilities, and we will move towards awarding a new long-term contract from 2028.”
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, environment and climate change, added: “The five leisure facilities in Wells, Street, Glastonbury, Frome and Shepton Mallet are vital to the community – not just for the leisure facilities but the hubs they are within the settlements and the wider catchment.
“I have championed for leisure services to continue after the previous operator went into administration, and there has been great teamwork by many across the council, but in particular our small but fantastic culture and leisure team.”
Daniel Mumby – Local Democracy Reporter