‘Ambitious plan’ to reopen Adur leisure facilities early next year

A new operator for Adur’s three main leisure facilities could be in place early next year.
Wadurs community pool. Pic Steve Robards SR2007204 SUS-200720-163111001Wadurs community pool. Pic Steve Robards SR2007204 SUS-200720-163111001
Wadurs community pool. Pic Steve Robards SR2007204 SUS-200720-163111001

Lancing Manor, Southwick Leisure and Wadurs pool have not reopened after lockdown due to Adur Community Leisure - which was an arm of Impulse Leisure - going into insolvency.

Adur District Council has been exploring the option of finding a new provider to run the facilities on a short-term basis and is now in talks with the South Downs Leisure Trust, which runs centres in Worthing.

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The council’s joint strategic committee was given an update on Tuesday night (November 3).

Martin Randall, the council’s director for the economy, described how South Downs Leisure had put together an ‘excellent’ business recovery plan, with the aim to reopen facilities in February. He said: “It’s ambitious but achievable.”

But he added a note of caution given the uncertainty about how long the second national lockdown would actually last.

The buildings would need to be readied and staff recruited.

Mr Randall said the level of financial support proposed was ‘not uncommon in the circumstances’ but they would be bidding to government for a share of emergency funding made available nationally to support leisure provision.

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He pointed out that the alternative of mothballing the sites would have large cost implications for the council.

The day before the SDLT board had agreed to its chief executive finalising the direct award contract.

According to an officers’ report: “SDL has built a strong reputation for working with local communities to support health and well-being as well as exemplary work to support people in vulnerable groups.”

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