Worthing leisure facilities to receive more than £400,000 in post-lockdown support

Worthing Borough Council is set to release more than £400,000 of funding to boost leisure facilities in the town after lockdown.
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South Downs Leisure, which operates Worthing Leisure Centre, Davison Leisure Centre, Field Place and Splashpoint swimming pool, has resumed the majority of its activities since restrictions were lifted.

But Splashpoint, in Brighton Road, has remained closed.

Worthing councillors from the joint strategic committee are due to meet tonight (September 8) to discuss approving a 'six-figure' support package for South Downs Leisure.

Worthing Leisure CentreWorthing Leisure Centre
Worthing Leisure Centre
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According to a report made to the committee, this will include waiving the group's annual service fee for two years, which stands at £90,460 for 2020/21.

A council spokesman said the total amount of investment 'cannot be released publicly for commercial reasons', but would come from government emergency covid-19 funding.

A separate report to the committee has also requested the council release £340,000 of section 106 money to creating a new 3G football pitch at Palatine Park. A further £575,000 of funding for the project will come from a Football Foundation grant.

A Adur and Worthing Councils spokesman said the intention is to ensure residents have as much access as possible to regular exercise opportunities, which supports wellbeing while reducing the risks of Covid and other conditions.

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It would be managed by South Downs Leisure and shared between community hire and Worthing Town FC, which has more than 500 players in men's, women's and youth teams.

Councillor Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council’s cabinet member for digital and environmental services, said: “Providing good-quality places for people to exercise and take part in activities which support wellbeing has never been more important. That’s why we are determined to use the resources we have to support, enhance and create a range of facilities for our residents.

“In extremely difficult times, South Downs Leisure have done sterling work to ensure that our leisure centres were ready for action the moment COVID restrictions were lifted. This extra funding will allow them to build on that and ensure the high-level of demand for activities is met moving forward.

“The investment in a new 3G football pitch at Palatine Park also underlines our commitment to working with the community and wider partners to create new spaces, where we can.”

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Reports to be discussed by the JSC this evening outline the difficulties leisure providers across the UK have had due to the pandemic, with many needing financial assistance to stay viable.

The reports to the committee note that South Downs Leisure took a proactive approach to ensuring it could reopen safely and operate sustainably after lockdown.

This included investing in new screens to establish more than 200 virtual classes each week, turning the main hall at Worthing Leisure Centre into one of the south coast’s largest gyms and relocating racquet sports to the Davison site.