Latest news with #PlacesLeisure
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New operator appointed for Epsom leisure centre
A new operator has been appointed to run a Surrey council-owned sports centre for the next 10 years. Places Leisure will take over the running of Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom from 1 & Ewell Borough Council said an option was in place to extend the contract for a further few years. A council spokesperson said: "Residents will continue to receive high-quality leisure, health and wellbeing services and this leisure centre will continue to be financially sustainable." Greenwich Leisure Ltd has operated the leisure centre for the last 22 new operator will "invest its own capital into the leisure centre, upgrading the gym, studios, swimming changing rooms and more", a council statement says. It will offer an active communities programme as well as schemes targeted at under 16s and the Dallen, the council's chair of the strategy and resources committee, said the leisure centre was "a key community facility".He said: "It was therefore important to us that for the foreseeable future, any operator could meet our core health and wellbeing service delivery requirements as well as our financial criteria."Dan Walker, business development director at Places Leisure, said: "Our primary goal is to support the local community to create more active places and empower more healthy people, which is why within the first year of our contract we will invest £4.7m in a series of projects."
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Maldon MP criticises Blackwater Leisure Centre plans
Users of a popular leisure centre would be "badly affected" by plans to revamp it, an MP sports hall at Blackwater Leisure Centre in Maldon, Essex, is due to be replaced by a new climbing wall and gym on 18 John Whittingdale, the town's Conservative MP, said people had been left baffled by the Maldon District Council leader Richard Siddall said the centre would be made "fit for purpose" for the next 20 years thanks to the work. Basketball, badminton and five-a-side football clubs have all been frequent users of the sports have told the BBC about not being consulted on the decision, which was made in November, until May. "I've received a lot of letters from constituents who are going to be badly affected by this decision," Sir John said."People don't quite understand why the decision was taken in the first place."Clubs have been looking to find alternative bases before the August deadline with mixed basketball team Highrollers found a venue 12 miles away (20km) in Burnham-on-Crouch, but the future of the centre's badminton club was John added: "The sports hall is much-valued and there is no alternative as yet that has been found."He called on the council to prioritise its residents over becoming a "profit-making enterprise".The project, which will also lead to work on the centre's swimming pool, is being led by contractor Places Leisure. Council leader Siddall, of the Maldon District Independent Group, said the work was crucial to future-proofing the claimed the leisure centre would not survive without the plan being implemented."We're really working hard over these months to make sure we find places for those that might be displaced temporarily," he studio space would be created under the proposal, he said, and the new gym would be accessible for people with disabilities."A lot of martial arts groups are very excited about the new studios and the facilities we're going to be providing," Siddall added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Blackwater Leisure Centre clubs must leave Maldon sports hall
Sports clubs have been told they must leave a popular facility to make way for a new climbing wall and hall at Blackwater Leisure Centre in Maldon, Essex, has been long been used for activities such as basketball, badminton and five-a-side player Barry Mann said his friends were "absolutely at a loss" after being told they had to move on by 18 District Council said it was working with hall users to provide alternative facilities for them. The badminton club was offered space at a nearby school, but Mr Mann said that removed the likelihood of attracting walk-in members."This facility was widely used and to lose it in this way, I was absolutely shocked," he told BBC Mann said the club would "die a death" within a year by becoming less visible away from the leisure centre."A lot of people a lot older than me are down there every day doing whatever they can to keep themselves occupied and moving," he added. "What is going to happen to these people? They're certainly not going to be climbing a clip and climb wall." Among the other clubs affected is wheelchair basketball team Highrollers, who have since been offered a venue 12 miles (about 20km) away in Ricky Cahill said it was an "absolute nightmare" trying to find a hall that was open during the he said the situation ended in a "pretty positive" way for the club when it secured a move to its new Leisure has been awarded a 20-year contract to run the local authority's leisure venues. It has pledged to invest £6m over that period.A spokesperson for Maldon District Council apologised for disruption caused during the changes."We are committed to working closely with users of the hall – including regular groups and clubs – to provide temporary and permanent alternative options," they added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide
THE popular 1990s Waterworld with a wave machine and water slide is finally open after a £1.6million upgrade. With another bank holiday weekend, many of us are well and truly getting into the summer spirit. 3 The changing area at Prudhoe Waterworld has been revamped Credit: Park Leisure 3 The locker area at Prudhoe Waterworld, which has undergone a £1.6million refurbishment by Northumberland County Council And what better way to plan for long summer days than by taking a family trip to the swimming pool. Prudhoe Waterworld, was originally opened in 1990 by Northumberland County Council but following its major refurbishment – it's looking better than ever. And best of all, it's open just in time for the half term school holidays. The new wet changing area has updated showers, toilets, changing cubicles and lockers. And for after your swim, there is now a vanity area with new lighting. The exit from the water flume has also been improved and the main footpath into the centre has been widened to allow more access. A new external ramp has also been added to also improve accessibility to the building so as to ensure inclusion. The work which started last October saw the pool drained so that minor repair work could be carried out. But now that a deep-clean is complete, the pool has been refilled ahead of the reopening. Managed by Places Leisure on behalf of the council, the centre features the refurbished main pool, a wave pool, gym, fitness studio, soft play, and a café. New £4million lido to open in UK next year The rest of the facility has remained open while the work was taking place and Centre Manager Richard Anderson is looking forward to welcoming customers back into the water reports ChronicleLive. He said: 'Following the completion of the extensive refurbishment. 'Final checks have now been made to ensure the swimming pool is in perfect condition to welcome back swimmers. 'The centre has had a great refresh and upgrade and is looking absolutely fantastic and I am sure it will be enjoyed by our customers old and new.' In a statement on its website, Places Leisure shared the following important information: 'We are very happy to announce that we will be reopening the pool from Monday May 19. 'We thank you for your continued patience during the ongoing refurbishment work, we look forward to sharing the improvements with you.' Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK with rare Victorian baths has been named one of the best in the world. There is also a Victorian bathhouse which has been turned into a leisure attraction and will soon complete a £71million makeover with a new pool and spaces. It's not the only art deco spa in England, 'London's oldest' with Turkish baths, with an indoor pool and affordable day passes, is open in Queensway.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide
Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK has been named one of the best in the world MAKING A SPLASH Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE popular 1990s Waterworld with a wave machine and water slide is finally open after a £1.6million upgrade. With another bank holiday weekend, many of us are well and truly getting into the summer spirit. 3 The changing area at Prudhoe Waterworld has been revamped Credit: Park Leisure 3 The locker area at Prudhoe Waterworld, which has undergone a £1.6million refurbishment by Northumberland County Council And what better way to plan for long summer days than by taking a family trip to the swimming pool. Prudhoe Waterworld, was originally opened in 1990 by Northumberland County Council but following its major refurbishment - it's looking better than ever. And best of all, it's open just in time for the half term school holidays. The new wet changing area has updated showers, toilets, changing cubicles and lockers. And for after your swim, there is now a vanity area with new lighting. The exit from the water flume has also been improved and the main footpath into the centre has been widened to allow more access. A new external ramp has also been added to also improve accessibility to the building so as to ensure inclusion. The work which started last October saw the pool drained so that minor repair work could be carried out. But now that a deep-clean is complete, the pool has been refilled ahead of the reopening. Managed by Places Leisure on behalf of the council, the centre features the refurbished main pool, a wave pool, gym, fitness studio, soft play, and a café. New £4million lido to open in UK next year The rest of the facility has remained open while the work was taking place and Centre Manager Richard Anderson is looking forward to welcoming customers back into the water reports ChronicleLive. He said: "Following the completion of the extensive refurbishment. "Final checks have now been made to ensure the swimming pool is in perfect condition to welcome back swimmers. "The centre has had a great refresh and upgrade and is looking absolutely fantastic and I am sure it will be enjoyed by our customers old and new." In a statement on its website, Places Leisure shared the following important information: "We are very happy to announce that we will be reopening the pool from Monday May 19. "We thank you for your continued patience during the ongoing refurbishment work, we look forward to sharing the improvements with you." Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK with rare Victorian baths has been named one of the best in the world. There is also a Victorian bathhouse which has been turned into a leisure attraction and will soon complete a £71million makeover with a new pool and spaces. It's not the only art deco spa in England, "London's oldest" with Turkish baths, with an indoor pool and affordable day passes, is open in Queensway.
