Leisure centres and swimming pools across a large number of the UK’s council areas are in danger of being closed down due to the high cost of energy, new research reveals.
ukactive has warned that large numbers of public sector leisure facilities are unlikely to make it through to next spring, with service restrictions and facility closures already growing across the UK.
A survey of more than a third of all UK leisure centres and swimming pools found that 40% of council areas are at risk of losing or seeing reduced services at their leisure centres before 31 March 2023.
Three quarters (74%) of council areas are classified as ‘unsecure’, meaning there is risk of the closure of leisure centres and/or reduced services before 31 March 2024.
Huw Edwards, ukactive CEO, said: ‘We are now seeing daily announcements of public sector leisure facilities either restricting services, at threat of closure, or closing permanently due to the energy crisis.
‘This is the sad reality of the accurate projections ukactive made to the Government earlier this year, and a tragedy for local communities which are losing trusted, essential services that support the physical and mental wellbeing of the communities they serve.
‘The Energy Price Guarantee – in place until March 2023 – has avoided catastrophic energy prices across all sectors for the moment, but it was never a silver bullet, and this is now being seen in parts of our sector, especially in facilities that run swimming pools.
‘The Government needs to intervene now, and we remain committed to bringing together operator members, alongside representatives across local government, to explore all options available to stem the flow of closures.
‘The UK cannot afford our new projections on restrictions and closures to happen, hence the need for urgent action now.’
