Chorley Council takes over running of local leisure centres

The Council said its action is due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

​The authority was due to transfer the running of the centres, All Seasons Leisure Centre, Clayton Green Sports Centre and Brinscall Baths, to Life Leisure from the current operator Active Nation. But it says the pandemic means Life Leisure is no longer able to take on the new contract.

The council said it had considered all the options available and "given the continuing uncertainty around the leisure industry " it decided this was the best option to ensure the centres and pool remain open for residents.

Coun. Bev Murray, who oversees the running of the leisure sites for the council, said: “As everyone knows the leisure industry has been hit really hard by the pandemic and while they have been able to reopen, usage is much lower due to the measures that have to be taken to make them Covid secure.

“We are in a similar position to many councils up and down the country with leisure providers struggling financially but this falls as a new operator was about to take on the sites. While there are a few options available to us they all carry some risk and us taking on the operation of the sites means we can offer more certainty to residents and keep them running during these difficult times.”

The All Seasons Leisure Centre, in Chorley, has a sports hall, gym, fitness studios and swimming pool. Clayton Green Sports Centre has a sports hall, gym and outdoor football pitches and Brinscall Baths is an indoor swimming pool.

The leisure centres will be closed for two weeks following the handover and when they reopen they will be managed by staff employed directly by the council.

Coun Murray said: “Leading a healthy lifestyle has never been more important with the physical and mental benefits it provides so that’s why it is important we chose the right option to keep the facilities open for everyone to use. There are a number of improvements we want to make to the sites and we will factor in the changing nature of leisure centres given the impact on people’s habits that the pandemic has had.

“We will continue to look at the longer term options for running the sites over the coming months.”

The centres will run as they are for the remainder of this month. Everyone with a membership will be contacted about the next steps.

All Seasons and Brinscall Baths will be closed from 2pm on Wednesday 30 September and Clayton Green Sports Centre will be closed from 9pm, on Tuesday 29 September. All the sites will re-open on Monday 12 October.

A spokesperson for Chorley Marlins swimming club said the club hoped for good support from the Council but members would be disappointed that training would have to go on hold temporarily.

The club's statement said: "2020 has been a very challenging year for Chorley Marlins Amateur Swimming Club and it is extremely disappointing that swim training is being suspended again. The Club only returned to training at the end of August after being closed for over four months due Covid-19.

"Following news that management of the leisure centres is being taken over by the council, we are hopeful that the future will be better and more stable for Chorley Marlins. We would like to think that Chorley Council will be supportive of the club and that we can get back in the pool with a full training schedule as soon as possible as the club has an important role in helping to keep young people in Chorley fit and active. "