Adur leisure centres could reopen ‘early next year’ amid takeover talks

Adur’s dormant leisure centres could be reopened early next year if plans for a neighbouring provider to take over the facilities are agreed.
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Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, Southwick Leisure Centre and Wadurs Swimming Pool were closed in July after their operator, Adur Community Leisure (ACL) declared itself insolvent.

The council-owned sites have remained unused ever since, but Adur and Worthing Councils are considering a deal with Worthing-based operator South Downs Leisure (SDL) to take over the running of the sites.

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A report to go before the councils’ joint strategic committee on Tuesday (November 3) recommends a budget of £280,000 be awarded to the company to restart and run services until the end of March next year.

Southwick Leisure Centre, Old Barn Way, Southwick, Brighton. Pic Steve Robards SR2007203 SUS-200720-163032001Southwick Leisure Centre, Old Barn Way, Southwick, Brighton. Pic Steve Robards SR2007203 SUS-200720-163032001
Southwick Leisure Centre, Old Barn Way, Southwick, Brighton. Pic Steve Robards SR2007203 SUS-200720-163032001

SDL would need to recruit staff and ensure the buildings were fit for purpose and equipment modernised, the report said, but the proposed deal could then see SDL run the services for five years with £700,000 funding from the council.

Maintaining the buildings and equipment, as well as searching for a new operator, has already cost the council £300,000 since ACL’s demise in July and mothballing the facilities for longer could cost up to £480,000 a year.

Adur District Council’s cabinet member for the environment, Emma Evans, said: “It was sad that ACL could not survive lockdown and that staff lost their jobs. However from that moment we have been working very hard to secure the future of the facilities and SDL have a proven track record in running excellent sports, health and wellbeing leisures services across the border in Worthing.

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“We know how important to health and wellbeing activity provided at these centres is to residents especially in these terrible times and we hope we can bring real impetus now towards opening doors again next year.”

Lancing Manor Leisure centre. Manor Rd, Lancing. Pic  Steve Robards SR2007205 SUS-200720-163126001Lancing Manor Leisure centre. Manor Rd, Lancing. Pic  Steve Robards SR2007205 SUS-200720-163126001
Lancing Manor Leisure centre. Manor Rd, Lancing. Pic Steve Robards SR2007205 SUS-200720-163126001

The initial £280,000 of funding would come from an emergency grant awarded by the Government to help struggling sports centres.

South Downs Leisure runs leisure and community services in Worthing, including Splashpoint Leisure Centre.

Chief executive Duncan Anderson said it was ‘great’ to potentially be creating new jobs and reopening the facilities in the new year.

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The report recommends the director for the economy is given delegated authority to award the contract in consultation with the leader of Adur District Council, Neil Parkin, and Emma Evans, cabinet member for the environment.