Adur leisure centres rescued by Worthing company

Lancing Manor Leisure Centre, Southwick Leisure Centre and Wadurs swimming pool in Shoreham have been closed since March after the previous operator, Adur Community Leisure, collapsed during the first lockdown.

But Adur District Council has struck a deal with South Downs Leisure (SDL), a company which runs sites in Worthing such as the Splashpoint and Davison leisure centres.

The council’s cabinet member for the environment, Emma Evans, said: “I’m delighted we have got this deal over the line. South Downs Leisure has an excellent record of delivering first class sports and leisure services and I am sure we in Adur will benefit from its expertise.

“This deal means that as soon as the government decides it is safe to do so we will be able to reopen these facilities which, if lockdown has taught us anything, we know can play an important role in helping with our health and wellbeing.”

The council has spent £300,000 maintaining the buildings, equipment and running consultations to prepare for the future since Adur Community Leisure’s collapse in July, and has pledged another £700,000 of funding over the five-year contract with SDL.

In a report to the District Council last year SDL was described as having an ‘established financial and operational track record’ and ‘a strong reputation for working with local communities to support health and well-being as well as exemplary work to support people in vulnerable groups’.

The company’s chief executive, Duncan Anderson, said: “It’s great to be working in partnership with Adur District Council to take over the operation of these leisure facilities and get them ready for reopening to the community with a new and improved membership package.

“In the meantime we would encourage all residents in Adur to download our South Downs Leisure App which has 45 free weekly classes being live streamed each week.”

The plan is to open the centres as soon as the Government lifts lockdown rules.