Deal seals future of Bridgnorth leisure centre
The future of Bridgnorth Leisure Centre has been secured after school governors agreed to take over responsibility for the building.
Bridgnorth Endowed School held a meeting with sports clubs and arts organisations to discuss how the facility could be developed in the future.
It was agreed the school could take on the running of the centre on a 125-year lease.
Recent changes mean the school, which is an academy and independent from Shropshire Council, has secured a long lease of the land and its buildings.
This has opened the way for the future of the leisure centre to be clarified.
Governor Rob Willoughby said: "This means that there is an opportunity to develop the leisure centre to secure its long term future.
"The governors are committed to continuing the joint use of the facility for the benefit of both the school and the local community."
He said the school is keen to work with both clubs and societies that use the centre, and local people in the town, to develop ideas for increasing the use of the centre.
He said the move would also make it easier to to make bids to charities, the National Lottery and Sport England, so that new developments and remedial work to the centre can be undertaken.
Mr Willoughby added: "In the next few years there will also be the opportunity to explore new management for the centre as Shropshire Council has indicated it does not want to manage the facility in the longer term."
Involvement
Shropshire Council indicated last week it wanted to end its involvement and hand over fully to the Endowed School, which shares the same site.
Funding for the facility was also under threat due to budget pressures on Shropshire Council.
The council revealed this week the management of leisure centres across Shropshire was likely to be out sourced to private firms in a bid to save the authority more than £550,000.
The plan is being considered as part of attempts for the authority to save £80 million in the next three years.
The council is responsible for 24 sites in the county.
The school and clubs will work together to bid for grants to bring the fabric of the building up to standard before an arrangement is made with a specialist leisure management company.
The leisure centre includes a four-lane swimming pool, four squash courts, a fitness suite, and outdoor all-weather pitch which plays host to Bridgnorth Hockey Club among others and a sports hall.
It is the base for many local sporting organisations including Northgate Swimming Club and Excalibur Martial Arts club
Several suggestions to improve the running of the centre were made and further meetings will be held to take those ideas forward.
A public meeting involving the wider community will be arranged for the spring.
To hear more about the plans contact Sue Underhill at Bridgnorth Endowed School on (01746) 762103.
