Leisure centres saved from closure by council deal

Five Somerset leisure centres have been saved from closure thanks to a £215,000 council rescue deal.

Fusion Lifestyle, which operated facilities in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street and Wells, went into administration on 1 April after experiencing "significant financial difficulties" following the Covid pandemic.

Somerset Council confirmed on Tuesday that Freedom Leisure would be taking on the five sites for two years.

Council deputy leader Liz Leyshon said she was "delighted and relieved" by the announcement, adding: "The 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."

Freedom Leisure – based in East Sussex – currently runs facilities in the former Sedgemoor and South Somerset areas.

The five sites which will be run by the company under this new deal are Frome Leisure Centre, Shepton Mallet Lido, Strode Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, Tor Sports and Leisure Centre and Wells Leisure Centre.

The two-year contract, which is worth £214,594, will officially begin on 1 July, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Users will be contacted in the coming weeks about any changes they need to make to their memberships.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, environment and climate change, said: "The five leisure facilities 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."

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