Dan Peters 13 May 2021

More than 100 leisure centres could go bust, DCN warns

More than 100 leisure centres could go bust, DCN warns image

More than 100 leisure centres in England could go bust due to the coronavirus crisis, district councils have warned.

A new survey revealed today that one in three district councils expect to be forced to close gyms and swimming pools due to the ‘devastating’ financial impact of the pandemic.

One in five councils believe centres will go out of business within the next three months and three out of five within the year.

Of those able to remain open, nearly four out of five have warned they will have ‘no choice but to strip back many services’.

In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Baroness Grey Thompson, who will be formally elected as the Local Government Association’s president in July, wrote: ‘If the Government is to deliver on the aims of the Queen’s Speech and create a stronger, healthier and more prosperous society it cannot allow hundreds of facilities to close across the country.’

More than 400 gyms, polls and leisure centres in the UK have already been forced to close during the pandemic.

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) said government funding to support leisure centres during the pandemic fell ‘far short of plugging the £325m funding gap’.

DCN’s lead member for enhancing quality of life, Cllr Dan Humphreys, said district councils had ‘done all they can to keep leisure services afloat’.

He continued: ‘As these alarming findings show, the gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres that communities rely on every day face a desperately bleak future, with many on the brink of closing in the coming months due to the financial losses they have incurred during the pandemic.

‘A wave of closures will deliver a real body blow to our efforts to boost physical and mental health and address the health inequalities across our communities.’

Ministers have said they ‘sympathise with the plight of leisure centres’ but have insisted it is for councils to fund them rather than central government.

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Climate Change Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£40,476 - £42,708
Are you a passionate and enthusiastic Climate Change Officer Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Transition Home Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 13 £45,718 - £49,764 (Pay Award Pending)
Could you support young people to realise their individual potential and prepare them for their journey towards independence. NOT JUST A PLACE OF WOR Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEND and Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker (Communication and Interaction Team)

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
We are recruiting a SEND & Inclusion Senior Specialist Support Worker to join our Specialist SEND & Inclusion Team. We would be particularly intereste Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner